Chinese word

摇

Pronunciation

Pinyinyáo

Meaning

  • verbshake

Example

她把杯子摇了两下。tā bǎ bēi zi yáo le liǎng xià

She shook the cup twice.

Illustration for 摇 (shake)

More examples

听到这个消息，他不自觉地摇了摇头。tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xī tā bú zì jué dì yáo le yáo tóu

Hearing the news, he shook his head without realizing it.

Core concept

Making something move back and forth again and again, whether by hand, in a gesture, or to a beat.

Common phrases

  • 摇头yáo tóu

    shake one's head

  • 摇晃yáo huàng

    sway

  • 摇起来yáo qǐ lái

    begin to shake

Similar words

摇动yáo dòng: Shaking a hand or object with short movements from side to side or back and forth.
摇晃yáo huàng: Moving from side to side in an unsteady, wavering way.
摆动bǎi dòng: Moving back and forth in a regular pattern with broad swings.
抖动dǒu dòng: Shaking with tiny, rapid movements or vibrations.

Definition in Chinese

反复使物体来回摆动，有时含有表示态度或节奏的引申用法。fǎn fù shǐ wù tǐ lái huí bǎi dòng yǒu shí hán yǒu biǎo shì tài dù huò jié zòu de yǐn shēn yòng fǎ

Word origin

The verb develops from the concrete act of making something move back and forth and extends naturally to bodily gestures and rhythmic motion.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, the object or body part often supplies the clue to the intended English wording, since English names movement differently for a container, a person, and a raised hand.

Other meanings

  • rockverb
  • swayverb
  • waveverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word