Definitions

(verb) to make an excursion; to ramble; to travel
(noun) surname

Etymology

Originally a pictograph of a person () taking a stroll amid plants (). The component was added later.

About

The character "敖" originally conveyed the idea of wandering or roaming, with its traditional form structurally composed of "𠂉", a variant form representing a person, and "放", meaning to release or let go, visually suggesting a person set free to travel. Its early usage centered on physical movement, but over centuries the character's meaning extended to include attitudes of disregard and pride, evident in its role in compounds denoting arrogance or insolence. This semantic shift from literal travel to abstract behavioral traits occurred while the character's graphical composition remained largely unchanged.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的老师姓

Wǒ de lǎoshī xìng Áo.

My teacher's surname is Ao.

我喜欢游世界。

Wǒ xǐhuan áoyóu shìjiè.

I like to travel the world.

草原上有许多包。

Cǎoyuán shàng yǒu xǔduō áobāo.

There are many cairns on the grassland.

雄鹰在天空翔。

Xióngyīng zài tiānkōng áoxiáng.

The eagle soars in the sky.

他梦想游全球各地。

Tā mèngxiǎng áoyóu quánqiú gèdì.

He dreams of traveling all over the world.

包是蒙古族的重要标志。

Áobāo shì Ménggǔzú de zhòngyào biāozhì.

The cairn is an important symbol of the Mongolian people.

每当节日,人们都会聚集在包周围。

Měi dāng jiérì, rénmen dōu huì jùjí zài áobāo zhōuwéi.

Whenever there is a festival, people gather around the cairn.

他的游经历丰富了他的人生视野。

Tā de áoyóu jīnglì fēngfùle tā de rénshēng shìyě.

His traveling experiences enriched his life perspective.