xiáng
verb #15,684

Meanings

  1. 1 to soar
  2. 2 to glide
  3. 3 shit; poop

Examples

HSK 1
Tā de míngzi lǐ yǒu yī gè xiáng zì.
His name contains the character 翔.
HSK 7-9
Xióngyīng zài tiānkōng zhōng áoxiáng.
The eagle soars in the sky.

Tips

culture
is a popular character in Chinese given names, meaning 'to soar.' However, internet slang has given it the meaning 'poop/shit,' making it an unfortunate name choice for younger generations.

Components

radical
feather; wing
Right feather radical - pictograph of two outstretched wings with feather barbs, doubled. The indexing radical, marking as a flight word. Specifically 'to soar' - wings held flat, gliding without flapping (compared to which is active flying). Same radical groups with (wing), (wing-feather), (writing brush - from goose quill).
phonetic
yáng
sheep; goat
Left supplies the sound - yáng shifting to xiáng through a regular y/x palatal alternation. itself depicts a sheep's head with curled horns. Same phonetic feeds (detailed), (auspicious), (ocean), (sample) - all in the yáng/xiáng family. Purely sound-bearing here.

Stroke Order

xiáng