呃

è
厄 + 口

Definitions

è (exclamation); to hiccup

Etymology

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

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 厄

About

呃 is a phono-semantic compound composed of the mouth radical 口 on the left, indicating a mouth-related action, and the phonetic element 厄 on the right. It represents a hiccup, capturing both the involuntary physical action and its sound. In addition, it is frequently used in written dialogue and informal transcription as an interjection or onomatopoeic filler for a conversational pause, a moment of hesitation, or the sound of catching one's breath while speaking.

Example Sentences Hide

呃，你说什么？

È, nǐ shuō shénme?

Um, what did you say？

他呃了一声，没再说话。

Tā è le yì shēng, méi zài shuōhuà.

He made an "uh" sound and didn't speak again.

我吃完饭总容易打嗝。

Wǒ chī wán fàn zǒng róngyì dǎgé.

I always tend to hiccup after meals.

他说话时不停地呃呃啊啊的。

Tā shuōhuà shí bùtíng de è è ā ā de.

He kept saying "um" and "ah" while talking.

这种尴尬的呃逆持续了好几分钟。

Zhè zhǒng gāngà de ènì chíxùle hǎo jǐ fēnzhōng.

This awkward bout of hiccups lasted for several minutes.

医生正在研究呃逆的神经反射原理。

Yīshēng zhèngzài yánjiū ènì de shénjīng fǎnshè yuánlǐ.

Doctors are studying the neural reflex mechanism of hiccups.

他本想反驳，却只发出一个含糊的呃音。

Tā běn xiǎng fǎnbó, què zhǐ fāchū yí gè hánhu de è yīn.

He meant to retort, but only let out a vague "uh" sound.

那个突如其来的饱嗝让严肃的会谈气氛变得有些滑稽。

Nàge túrúqílái de bǎogé ràng yánsù de huìtán qìfēn biàn dé yǒuxiē huájī.

That sudden belch made the atmosphere of the serious meeting somewhat comical.

Related Characters

Component: 厄

顾 扼 轭 苊 阨 軛 枙 砈

Component: 口

中 和 可 后 如 同 只 知 高 问 向 或 加 合

Example Words

呃逆