Definitions

sháo surname Shao
sháo (literary) splendid; glorious

Etymology

Imperial  music  also provides the pronunciation

About

The character "韶" originates from the combination of the semantic element "音", meaning sound, and the phonetic element "召", which historically guided its pronunciation, together constructing a form that initially embodied the idea of ceremonial music. Its earliest known usage specifically denotes the "Shao" music, a revered artistic tradition linked to the legendary Emperor Shun, symbolizing ritual harmony and cultural idealism. Over time, the meaning associated with "韶" broadened from this precise musical reference to encompass general attributes of beauty, elegance, and splendor, often applied to describe landscapes, periods, or refined achievements, marking a semantic evolution from a concrete artistic term to an abstract descriptor of aesthetic quality while its graphical composition remained unchanged.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

华很宝贵,莫要虚度。

Sháo huá hěn bǎoguì, mò yào xūdù.

Youth is precious; do not squander it.

她的名字里有一个字。

Tā de míngzì lǐ yǒu yī gè sháo zì.

There is a character "韶" in her name.

山是毛泽东的故乡。

Sháoshān shì Máo Zédōng de gùxiāng.

Shaoshan is Mao Zedong's hometown.

那段光令人终生难忘。

Nà duàn sháoguāng lìng rén zhōngshēng nánwàng.

That period of beautiful youth is unforgettable for a lifetime.

他正处在人生最美好的年。

Tā zhèng chǔ zài rénshēng zuì měihǎo de sháonián.

He is in the most beautiful youthful years of his life.

音乐会上响起了乐般的旋律。

Yīnyuèhuì shàng xiǎngqǐle sháoyuè bān de xuánlǜ.

A melody reminiscent of ancient "Shao" music resounded at the concert.

回忆中的景总带着一层温暖的滤镜。

Huíyì zhōng de sháojǐng zǒng dàizhe yī céng wēnnuǎn de lǜjìng.

The beautiful scenes in memory always carry a warm filter.

与浮华的喧嚣相比,我更爱这乡间的秀。

Yǔ fúhuá de xuānxiāo xiāng bǐ, wǒ gèng ài zhè xiāngjiān de sháoxiù.

Compared to the flashy bustle, I prefer the elegant beauty of this countryside.