翔 xiáng to soar
to soar; to hover; to glide
How to remember 翔: 羊 sheep + 羽 feather = to soar. On the hillside the sheep look up at an eagle that spreads every feather and begins to soar above them.
Component breakdown
翔 = 羊 sheep + 羽 feather
- 羊 sheep
- 羽 feather
On the hillside the sheep look up at an eagle that spreads every feather and begins to soar above them.
How it is used
- Bound; means to glide with wings spread - not just "fly" but soar and circle. Lives in 飞翔 (fēixiáng) to soar, 滑翔 (huáxiáng) to glide, 翱翔 (áoxiáng) to hover on high.
- Contrast 飞 (fēi), the plain verb "fly": 翔 adds the image of effortless gliding, so it's the more vivid, literary choice - 雄鹰在天空翱翔 (xióngyīng zài tiānkōng áoxiáng) the eagle soars across the sky.