奥

奧

ào

丿 + 冂 + 大 + 米

Definitions

ào (adjective) obscure; mysterious

ào (noun) Olympic; Austria

Etymology

Simplified form of 奧. Depicts two hands (廾) hiding rice (米) in a corner or a container. Based on the original meaning "to store". The meaning later shifted to "obscure", "profound", and "mysterious".

About

The simplified character 奥 comes from the traditional 奧. In its traditional form, the character is an ideogrammic compound: a roof (宀) above rice (米) and a pair of hands (廾). This image of hands stowing rice in a hidden corner or container conveyed the meaning "to store". Over time, the idea of something being stored away led to the extended senses of "obscure", "profound", and "mysterious". The simplified 奥 discards the roof and simplifies the hands element into 大, yet still evokes the core notion of something concealed.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

奥运会每四年举行一次。

Àoyùnhuì měi sì nián jǔxíng yīcì.

The Olympic Games are held every four years.

宇宙有很多奥秘。

Yǔzhòu yǒu hěnduō àomì.

The universe has many mysteries.

这个游戏很奥妙。

Zhège yóuxì hěn àomiào.

This game is very profound.

奥地利在欧洲中部。

Àodìlì zài Ōuzhōu zhōngbù.

Austria is in central Europe.

他擅长做奥数题。

Tā shàncháng zuò àoshù tí.

He is good at solving Olympiad math problems.

这本书阐述了人生的奥义。

Zhè běn shū chǎnshùle rénshēng de àoyì.

This book expounds on the profound meaning of life.

他的学问奥博难懂。

Tā de xuéwèn àobó nán dǒng.

His knowledge is abstruse and hard to understand.

这篇论文深入探讨了哲学的奥旨。

Zhè piān lùnwén shēnrù tàntǎole zhéxué de àozhǐ.

This paper deeply explores the profound purport of philosophy.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 丿

Component: 冂

Component: 大

Component: 米

奥