吟

唫

yín

今 + 口

Definitions

yín (verb) to chant; to recite

yín (verb) to moan; to groan

yín (verb) to make sound (of insects)

yín (noun) poem; verse

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 今 represents the sound.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 今

About

吟 is a phono-semantic compound: 口 ('mouth') signals a vocal action, and 今 gives the sound. It originally meant chanting, reciting poetry, or singing in a soft, measured tone, and also covers groaning or moaning from pain or deep distress. The phonetic 今 means 'now' and only contributes the pronunciation.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他喜欢吟诗。

Tā xǐhuān yín shī.

He likes to recite poetry.

她在吟唱一首美丽的歌。

Tā zài yínchàng yī shǒu měilì de gē.

She is chanting a beautiful song.

诗人吟诵了他的新作品。

Shīrén yínsòng le tā de xīn zuòpǐn.

The poet recited his new work.

他站在窗前沉吟。

Tā zhàn zài chuāng qián chényín.

He stood by the window, pondering silently.

老人常在公园里吟古诗。

Lǎorén cháng zài gōngyuán lǐ yín gǔshī.

The old man often chants ancient poems in the park.

她动情地吟了一段书中的文字。

Tā dòngqíng de yínle yī duàn shū zhōng de wénzì.

With emotion, she recited a paragraph from the book.

月光下，他吟了一首自创的诗。

Yuèguāng xià, tā yínle yī shǒu zì chuàng de shī.

Under the moonlight, he chanted a self-composed poem.

老师鼓励学生吟诵古典诗歌以欣赏其韵律。

Lǎoshī gǔlì xuéshēng yínsòng gǔdiǎn shīgē yǐ xīnshǎng qí yùnlǜ.

The teacher encouraged the students to chant classical poetry to appreciate its rhythm.

Related Characters

Component: 今

Component: 口

吟