About

The word **逍遥 (xiāoyáo)** is formed through the morphological process of **disyllabification**, where two semantically and phonetically similar characters are combined to create a single, nuanced meaning. Both characters share the "辶" (walk/advance) radical, implying movement or a state of being. Individually, 逍 and 遥 are rarely used alone and are phonetically close, creating a harmonious, reduplicative effect. Together, they form an **alliterative binome** (a type of disyllabic word) that expresses the abstract philosophical concept of "carefree wandering," "unrestrained freedom," or "leisurely ease," a term deeply rooted in Daoist thought. The formation thus uses both semantic clues from the radicals and phonetic pairing to evoke a vivid, holistic idea.

Word Definition - 逍遥

xiāo yáo free and unfettered

Individual Character Details