耸

聳

sǒng

从 + 耳

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

sǒng (verb) to tower; to rise high

sǒng (adjective) tall; towering; lofty

sǒng (verb) to shrug

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 耳 represents the meaning and 从 represents the sound. Simplified form of 聳.

Semantic: 耳 Phonetic: 从

About

耸, the modern simplified form of 聳, is a phono-semantic compound. The semantic component 耳 (ěr) means 'ear', naturally associating the character with hearing and alertness. The phonetic component is 从 (cóng) , in the traditional 聳, the phonetic was the related character 從. The earliest recorded usage conveys the sense of startling or alarming someone, typically by means of a sound. From this notion of a sudden jolt to attention, the meaning gradually expanded to describe physical elevation: shrugging one's shoulders upward, and the lofty, towering quality of mountains or tall structures. In essence, the character moved from denoting an auditory-induced reaction to signifying vertical height and prominence.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

大楼耸立在路边。

Dàlóu sǒnglì zài lù biān.

The building towers by the roadside.

他耸耸肩表示无奈。

Tā sǒng sǒng jiān biǎoshì wúnài.

He shrugs his shoulders to show helplessness.

那座古老的塔耸立在山顶上。

Nà zuò gǔlǎo de tǎ sǒnglì zài shāndǐng shàng.

That ancient tower stands tall on the hilltop.

远处的山峰高耸入云。

Yuǎnchù de shānfēng gāo sǒng rù yún.

The mountain peaks in the distance tower into the clouds.

他耸耸肩，然后继续工作。

Tā sǒng sǒng jiān, ránhòu jìxù gōngzuò.

He shrugged his shoulders and then continued working.

这座纪念碑耸立在广场中央。

Zhè zuò jìniànbēi sǒnglì zài guǎngchǎng zhōngyāng.

This monument towers in the center of the square.

面对质疑，他只是耸了耸肩，没有辩解。

Miànduì zhìyí, tā zhǐshì sǒng le sǒng jiān, méiyǒu biànjiě.

Faced with doubt, he just shrugged his shoulders and didn't defend himself.

这座新建的摩天大楼耸立在城市的天际线上，非常壮观。

Zhè zuò xīn jiàn de mótiān dàlóu sǒnglì zài chéngshì de tiānjìxiàn shàng, fēicháng zhuàngguān.

This newly built skyscraper towers on the city's skyline, very spectacular.

Related Characters

Component: 从

Component: 耳

耸