About
The character 廖, now almost exclusively employed as a surname, originated as an ancient toponym that gradually transitioned into a hereditary family name. Its structure combines the radical 广, which can denote a building or a broad area, with the component 翏, functioning primarily as a phonetic element that also evokes ideas of sound or soaring. This configuration originally suggested meanings related to emptiness or vast expanse, a usage documented in some classical texts but which has not persisted in modern language. Over time, the semantic content of vastness receded entirely, and the character became fixed in its function as a surname, representing a clear shift from a descriptive term to a dedicated anthroponym while retaining its graphical form without alteration.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
廖先生很好。
廖老师教我们数学。
我认识一位廖医生。
廖小姐今天没来上班。
廖化是三国时期的人物。
廖仲恺是中国近代的革命家。
这家公司的总经理姓廖。
廖教授在学术界很有影响力。