仰

yǎng

亻 + 卬

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

yǎng (verb) to look up; to face upward

yǎng (verb) to admire; to rely on

Etymology

To exalt 卬 a person 亻

About

The phono-semantic compound 仰 pairs the person radical 亻, indicating human posture or action, with the phonetic 卬, which also carries the meaning of looking up or exalting. Its original sense is the physical act of tilting one's head back to gaze upward. This stance of looking toward something higher naturally extended into figurative meanings of admiration, respect, and reverence for a person of superior status or a noble ideal, as well as reliance upon a higher entity.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我仰头看天空。

Wǒ yǎng tóu kàn tiānkōng.

I look up at the sky.

他仰慕那位老师。

Tā yǎngmù nà wèi lǎoshī.

He admires that teacher.

孩子们仰望着风筝。

Háizimen yǎngwàngzhe fēngzheng.

The children are looking up at the kite.

她信仰自由和平等。

Tā xìnyǎng zìyóu hé píngděng.

She believes in freedom and equality.

运动员仰卧起坐锻炼身体。

Yùndòngyuán yǎngwòqǐzuò duànliàn shēntǐ.

The athlete does sit-ups to exercise.

这个计划仰仗您的批准。

Zhège jìhuà yǎngzhàng nín de pīzhǔn.

This plan relies on your approval.

在夜晚，我常常仰望星空，思考人生。

Zài yèwǎn, wǒ chángcháng yǎngwàng xīngkōng, sīkǎo rénshēng.

At night, I often look up at the stars and think about life.

面对挑战，我们不应仰赖他人，而要自力更生。

Miànduì tiǎozhàn, wǒmen bù yīng yǎnglài tārén, ér yào zìlìgēngshēng.

Facing challenges, we should not rely on others but be self-reliant.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 卬

仰