逍遙

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”)

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。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     羔裘逍遥，狐裘以朝。岂不尔思，劳心忉忉。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 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.

     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

   Synonyms: 走來走去／走来走去 (zǒuláizǒuqù), 躑躅／踯躅 (zhízhú), 踟躕／踟蹰 (chíchú), 徘徊, 盤桓／盘桓 (pánhuán), 彷徨 (pánghuáng), 盤旋／盘旋 (pánxuán)

3. (literary) to relish; to appreciate; to delight in

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?

     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

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