曳

yè

Definitions

yè to drag; to pull; Taiwan pr. [yì]

Etymology

Pictograph of two hands pulling something.

About

曳 (yè) is primarily a verb meaning to drag, pull, or trail something behind. It originated as a pictograph of two hands pulling an object, but the modern character is a fused form with no obvious semantic radicals. The core sense involves physical exertion, drawing something along the ground or leaving something trailing, such as a long garment or an anchor. It frequently occurs in compounds for towing or dragging, and can also describe a trailing or drawn-out sound.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

树枝在风中摇曳。

Shùzhī zài fēng zhōng yáoyè.

Branches sway in the wind.

烛光轻轻摇曳。

Zhúguāng qīngqīng yáoyè.

Candlelight sways gently.

他用力拖曳重物。

Tā yònglì tuōyè zhòngwù.

He drags the heavy object with force.

车轮在泥地曳出深沟。

Chēlún zài nídì yè chū shēngōu.

The wheel drags out deep ruts in the mud.

她的长发曳地而行。

Tā de cháng fà yè dì ér xíng.

Her long hair trails on the ground as she walks.

瀑布曳出一道彩虹。

Pùbù yè chū yī dào cǎihóng.

The waterfall trails out a rainbow.

晚风中，柳条摇曳如舞蹈。

Wǎn fēng zhōng, liǔtiáo yáoyè rú wǔdǎo.

In the evening wind, willow branches sway like dancing.

思绪被回忆曳向远方。

Sīxù bèi huíyì yè xiàng yuǎnfāng.

Thoughts are dragged by memories to afar.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 曳

曳