夭
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: to die prematurely
💡 Think of a young sapling (大) bending over (丿) — it's '夭', a life ended too soon.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
夭 (yāo) means 'to die prematurely' or 'young death', reflecting a deep cultural sensitivity to untimely loss. The character depicts a person bending or falling, symbolizing life cut short. It appears in idioms like 夭折 (yāozhé) 'die young', conveying tragedy and the preciousness of life in Chinese worldview.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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