腾 téng to fly
to fly; to soar; to gallop; rising; to make room; to clear out
How to remember 腾: 月 moon + 龹 rolled up + 马 horse = to fly. Under a full moon the boy jumps on the carousel with his trousers rolled up and commands his wooden horse to fly.
Component breakdown
腾 = 月 moon + 𱅑
- 月 moon
- 𱅑
- 龹 rolled up
- 马 horse
Under a full moon the boy jumps on the carousel with his trousers rolled up and commands his wooden horse to fly.
How it is used
- Core image is rising/surging motion - 沸腾 (fèiténg) to boil, 奔腾 (bēnténg) to gallop/surge, 腾飞 (téngfēi) to soar (of an economy).
- Very productively means "to clear out / free up": 腾出时间 (téngchū shíjiān) to make time, 腾地方 (téng dìfang) to make room. Colloquial 折腾 (zhēteng) = to toss about / put someone through the wringer.