Definitions

(adjective) elegant; refined; graceful
(adjective) standard; correct

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

雅 denotes elegance, refinement, or proper standard, often used in the context of arts, literature, and behavior. It is a phono-semantic compound with the bird radical 隹 (zhuī) on the right, originally suggesting a specific bird, possibly a type of crow. The left component 牙 (yá), meaning tooth, serves as the phonetic element. The meaning shifted from the bird to the abstract concept of elegance through phonetic borrowing, as the character was adopted for a homophonous word meaning standard or refined, particularly in classical court music and orthodox poetry.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她的打扮很优

Tā de dǎbàn hěn yōuyǎ.

Her dressing is very elegant.

这个房间布置得致。

Zhège fángjiān bùzhì dé yǎzhì.

This room is decorated tastefully.

他有着高的品味。

Tā yǒu zhe gāoyǎ de pǐnwèi.

He has elegant taste.

请到座就坐。

Qǐng dào yǎzuò jiùzuò.

Please take a seat in the private room.

这种行为不太观。

Zhè zhǒng xíngwéi bù tài yǎguān.

This kind of behavior is not very decent.

他颇有兴,常赏花作诗。

Tā pō yǒu yǎxìng, cháng shǎng huā zuò shī.

He has quite a refined interest, often appreciating flowers and writing poems.

主人量,不计前嫌。

Zhǔrén yǎliàng, bù jì qián xián.

The host is magnanimous, not holding past grudges.

他的作品兼具与俗的特点。

Tā de zuòpǐn jiān jù yǎ yǔ sú de tèdiǎn.

His works combine characteristics of both elegance and vulgarity.