滑翔 (huá xiáng) literally combines 滑 (huá), meaning 'to slide' or 'to glide', and 翔 (xiáng), meaning 'to soar' or 'to fly gracefully'. Together, they describe unpowered flight — moving through the air without flapping wings or engine thrust, relying on air currents and aerodynamic lift. This term is commonly used for birds like eagles or albatrosses that extend their wings and ride thermal updrafts, as well as for human activities such as hang gliding or paragliding.

Unlike powered flight (飞行 fēi xíng), 滑翔 emphasizes passive, energy-efficient movement sustained by gravity and airflow. It often implies elegance, control, and harmony with natural forces. While technically applicable to aircraft or even falling objects under certain conditions, in everyday usage it carries a positive, almost poetic connotation — especially when describing animals or sports. The word appears frequently in nature documentaries, biology texts, and outdoor adventure contexts.