翹
excellence
Strokes18
Readings
On'yomi
- ギョウ
Kun'yomi
- あ.げる
- つまだ.てる
Meaning
翹 centers on the idea of standing out above others: excellence, raising something up, or lifting oneself onto tiptoes to be taller.
Most common words using 翹
Study
Etymology
翹 combines 羽 (feathers/wings) with 堯, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of being high or raised. The character suggests something lifted up like wings, hence excellence or raising.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture a bird raising its wings (羽) high above its body (堯), standing out from the flock. That raised, excellent posture is 翹.
Reading mnemonic
For ギョウ, imagine a gymnast named Gyo performing an excellent routine, lifting herself onto tiptoes on the balance beam: Gyo -> ギョウ, and her raised pose shows excellence.