About
The character 翘 (trad. 翹) is a phono-semantic compound originally describing a bird’s long tail feathers pointing upward. Its traditional form uses the semantic radical 羽 (feathers) to link it to birds or plumage, while the phonetic component 堯 (high/tall) suggests an upward orientation. The simplified version replaces the phonetic element with 尧, reducing strokes while preserving function. The literal meaning of feathers bending upward extended to a verb for anything tilting upward at one end, and metaphorically came to describe people who are outstanding or elevated above their peers.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他翘起了大拇指。
小猫翘起了尾巴。
我们翘首等待春天。
他昨天翘课去玩了。
木板的一端翘起来了。
她是班级里的翘楚。
观众们翘首以盼新电影上映。
经济指标翘尾因素值得关注。