逍遙

Etymology

A reduplicative ideophonic word, originally meaning “to walk leisurely”. As a concept in Chinese philosophy, xiaoyao was featured prominently in the ancient text of Zhuangzi. Compare the similar reduplicative formations of:

• 招搖 (OC *tjew lew, “to walk freely > to act pretentiously”)
• 優游 (OC *qu lu, “at leisure”)
• 夭紹 (OC *qrow djewʔ), 要紹 (OC *qew djewʔ, “lithe; relaxed”)

Pronunciation

Verb

逍遙

1. (literary) to stroll relaxingly; to walk leisurely; to wander in a carefree manner; to saunter about
   • 羔裘逍遙，狐裘以朝。豈不爾思，勞心忉忉。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     羔裘逍遥，狐裘以朝。岂不尔思，劳心忉忉。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, circa 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Gāo qiú xiāoyáo, hú qiú yǐ cháo. Qǐ bù ěr sī, láoxīn dāodāo. [Pinyin]

     In your lamb's fur you saunter about;
     In your fox's fur you hold your court.
     How should I not think anxiously about you?
     My toiled heart is full of grief.
2. (literary) to pace back and forth; to dither
3. (literary) to relish; to appreciate; to delight in

Adjective

逍遙

1. (often in Chinese philosophy) free and unfettered; carefree; untroubled
   • 彷徨乎無為其側，逍遙乎寢臥其下？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     彷徨乎无为其侧，逍遥乎寝卧其下？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

     Pánghuáng hū wú wéi qí cè, xiāoyáo hū qǐnwò qí xià? [Pinyin]

     […] There you might saunter idly by its side, or in the enjoyment of untroubled ease sleep beneath it.
   • 以遊逍遙之虛，食於苟簡之田 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     以游逍遥之虚，食于苟简之田 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

     yǐ yóu xiāoyáo zhī xū, shí yú gǒujiǎn zhī tián [Pinyin]

     Thus they rambled in the vacancy of Untroubled Ease, found their food in the fields of Indifference […]