yāo

die young

Depicts a person walking quickly. Original form of . Relation to current meaning unclear.

Evolution

夭 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
夭 Bronze script Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze script

Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
夭 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
夭 Clerical script Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Clerical script

Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
夭 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

yāo

young, fresh-looking; die young; tender; gentle; to die prematurely

() 

yāo

variant of [yāo]; to die young; Taiwan pr. [yǎo]

Most common words with 夭
Freq.
Word
Meaning

逃之夭夭

to show a clean pair of heels

to die young

夭折

to die young or prematurely

夭亡

to die young

Component uses

Meaning component in 1 character (1 verified)

Sound component in 8 characters (1 verified)

Iconic component in 1 character (1 verified)

Unknown component in 1 character (0 verified)