飞翔
fēi xiáng · HSK 7
to circle in the air
🦅 飞 (fly) + 翔 (glide with wings spread) = soaring flight
飞 means to fly, while 翔 specifically means to glide or circle with outstretched wings. Together they emphasize sustained, graceful flight — not a quick dash but the slow wheeling of an eagle riding thermals.
飞 — pictograph of a bird in flight (wings + body)
飞 is a pictograph originally depicting a bird soaring with outstretched wings, with the upper stroke suggesting the head and the curved strokes representing wings and tail. The traditional form 飛 shows the wings more clearly; 飞 is the simplified version retaining just one wing-like element. Its core meaning 'to fly' has stayed stable throughout history.