咏

詠

yǒng

口 + 永

Definitions

yǒng to sing

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 永 represents the sound. Simplified form of 詠.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 永

About

咏 is a phono-semantic compound, combining the radical 口 (mouth) with the phonetic component 永. Its traditional form, 詠, substitutes the speech radical 言 for 口, both emphasizing vocalization or speech. The component 永 contributes the pronunciation and evokes a sense of prolongation. The primary meaning is to chant, sing, or intone, often in a rhythmic, melodic manner associated with poetic recitation or the musical expression of deep feeling. The modern form uses the mouth radical 口 to represent this act of vocalizing verse or song.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我在咏唱古诗。

Wǒ zài yǒngchàng gǔshī.

I am chanting an ancient poem.

她咏了一首儿歌。

Tā yǒng le yī shǒu érgē.

She chanted a children's song.

我们经常咏叹命运。

Wǒmen jīngcháng yǒngtàn mìngyùn.

We often lament fate.

诗人咏梅表达坚强。

Shīrén yǒng méi biǎodá jiānqiáng.

The poet chants about plum blossoms to express resilience.

这首歌咏了祖国的山河。

Zhè shǒu gē yǒng le zǔguó de shānhé.

This song praises the mountains and rivers of the motherland.

在晚会上，他咏诵了优美的诗句。

Zài wǎnhuì shàng, tā yǒngsòng le yōuměi de shījù.

At the evening party, he recited beautiful verses.

孩子们用歌声咏唱童年的快乐。

Háizimen yòng gēshēng yǒngchàng tóngnián de kuàilè.

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

通过咏物，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.

Related Characters

Component: 口

Component: 永

咏