How to Write 窈 (yǎo) — Meaning “Deep, secluded, or quiet.”

Picture a young person (幼) hiding deep inside a cave (穴) to be quiet and secluded. This image combines the two parts to match the meaning "deep and secluded."

Start with the 穴 radical: dot, dot, left-falling stroke, right-falling stroke. Then write 幼: left side 幺 (two strokes) and right side 力 (two strokes). Keep the 幼 part narrower than the 穴 above to maintain balance, and avoid making the 力 too large.

窈 has 幼 (young) below 穴, meaning deep and secluded or graceful. 穸 has 夕 (evening) below, meaning a tomb or darkness. 穹 has 弓 (bow) below, meaning a vault or arched dome. Each bottom component gives a different meaning.

窈 is rarely used alone today; it mainly appears in the word 窈窕 (yǎo tiǎo), which describes a woman's graceful and elegant figure. This phrase comes from the famous ancient poem "窈窕淑女" in the Book of Songs, so it carries classical literary charm.

Common words containing 窈 include: 窈窕 (yǎo tiǎo) — Fair and graceful (usually describing a woman).; 窈深 (yǎo shēn) — Deep and secluded.; 窈冥 (yǎo míng) — Deep and dark or mysterious..