Definitions

yǒng to sing

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "咏", with its traditional form "詠", originated from early Chinese linguistic development where it primarily denoted the act of chanting or reciting poetry. Structurally, the traditional character combines the component "言", meaning speech or language, with "永", which conveys perpetuity and also functions phonetically, suggesting a prolonged or melodic vocal delivery. Over time, the meaning of the character expanded to encompass singing, praising, and the expression of emotions through verse. The simplified form "咏" replaces the speech radical with "口", or mouth, thereby shifting the structural emphasis more directly onto the physical act of vocalization while maintaining the core concept of melodic utterance linked to the component "永".

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我在唱古诗。

Wǒ zài yǒngchàng gǔshī.

I am chanting an ancient poem.

了一首儿歌。

Tā yǒng le yī shǒu érgē.

She chanted a children's song.

我们经常叹命运。

Wǒmen jīngcháng yǒngtàn mìngyùn.

We often lament fate.

诗人梅表达坚强。

Shīrén yǒng méi biǎodá jiānqiáng.

The poet chants about plum blossoms to express resilience.

这首歌了祖国的山河。

Zhè shǒu gē yǒng le zǔguó de shānhé.

This song praises the mountains and rivers of the motherland.

在晚会上,他诵了优美的诗句。

Zài wǎnhuì shàng, tā yǒngsòng le yōuměi de shījù.

At the evening party, he recited beautiful verses.

孩子们用歌声唱童年的快乐。

Háizimen yòng gēshēng yǒngchàng tóngnián de kuàilè.

The children use their voices to sing about the happiness of childhood.

通过物,诗人含蓄地抒发内心的情感。

Tōngguò yǒng wù, shīrén hánxù de shūfā nèixīn de qínggǎn.

Through chanting about objects, the poet implicitly expresses inner emotions.