揚

Compound ideograph composed of:

手 (손 수) — representing a hand, conveying the action of lifting or movement.

昜 (볕 양) — depicting the rising sun or spreading rays, symbolizing upward movement and brightness.

Together, they express the idea of “raising with the hand toward brightness”, that is, lifting up, causing to fly, or spreading upward.

This visual metaphor explains the dual sense of both physical elevation and spreading fame or light.

表揚 (표양) — to commend, to praise publicly

宣揚 (선양) — to propagate, to promote, to exalt

讚揚 (찬양) — to extol, to laud

飛揚 (비양) — to soar, to flutter upward

發揚 (발양) — to carry forward, to develop (virtue, spirit)

飄揚 (표양) — to flutter in the wind

張揚 (장양) — to make known, to publicize (often boastfully)

高揚 (고양) — to raise high (a spirit, a banner)

揚 carries a strong association with light, air, and movement upward — hence its frequent appearance with characters like 風 (wind), 陽 (sun), and 光 (light) in poetry, conveying openness, vitality, or spreading influence.

In classical usage, 揚 often occurs in the phrase 揚善 (양선) — “to lift up goodness,” representing the virtue of promoting the good so that others may emulate it.

The act of 揚 thus embodies moral elevation as much as physical or social.

《詩經》: 「揚之水，不流束薪。」

“The rising waters do not carry away the bound firewood.”

《論語》: 「子曰：揚善而懲惡。」

“The Master said: Promote the good and correct the bad.”