霭 (ǎi) - Mist, haze & a light fog or vapor

霭Tone 3

ǎi ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

安

霭 · ǎi

Mist, haze;

a light fog or vapor;

also used to describe a gentle, soft appearance or atmosphere.

Mist, hazea light fog or vaporalso used to describe a gentle, soft appearance

Usage highlights

Morning mistEvening hazeMisty cloudsGentle and kindMist and cloudsAuspicious clouds

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 晴— clear weather
  • 朗— bright, clear

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The morning mist (晨霭) hung over the valley.
  • A gentle and kind expression (和蔼可亲).
  • The distant mountains were shrouded in haze (烟霭).
  • Her smile was soft and amiable (笑靥如霭).

Collocations

  • Morning mist(晨霭)
  • Evening haze(暮霭)
  • Misty clouds(云霭)
  • Gentle and kind(和蔼)
  • Mist and clouds(烟霭)
  • Auspicious clouds(瑞霭)

Idioms

  • Gentle and kind(和蔼可亲)
  • Auspicious clouds gathering(瑞霭氤氲)
  • Mist-locked mountains and rivers(烟霭迷蒙)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used in classical poetry and landscape descriptions to evoke a soft, hazy, and tranquil atmosphere.
  • Associated with positive qualities like gentleness, kindness, and auspiciousness, as in the term 和蔼.
  • Represents a natural phenomenon that is aesthetically valued in traditional Chinese art and literature.

FAQ