verb HSK 5
Traditional 揚
to raise · to lift up · to scatter · to spread · to make known
Meaning
扬 primarily means to raise, lift, or throw upward, often with the connotation of something spreading through the air. It can refer to physical actions like raising dust or a flag, or abstract concepts like spreading fame or praise.
Usage
This character frequently appears in compound words rather than standing alone in modern Mandarin. Common contexts include raising one's head (抬头), spreading reputation (名扬), or kicking up dust (扬尘). It carries a slightly literary or formal tone when used independently.
Examples
- 01国旗在天安门广场上高高飘扬。' .The national flag flies high above Tiananmen Square.
- 02老师在班会上表扬了几位进步很大的同学。.The teacher praised several students who had made great progress at the class meeting.
Common collocations
- 扬起to raise up, to kick up
- 飘扬to wave in the wind
- 名扬四海fame spreads far and wide
- 扬长避短to play to one's strengths and avoid weaknesses
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 揚 combines the hand radical 扌(hand) with 昜 (yáng, meaning bright/open). The original meaning conveyed the action of raising or lifting something up with one's hand.