About
The character "哼" is structured as a phonetic-semantic compound, integrating the mouth radical (口) on the left to categorize it within the domain of sounds and vocal expressions, while the right-hand component "亨" primarily serves a phonetic function, guiding its pronunciation. Etymologically, this construction was designed to capture various guttural or nasal utterances, originally encompassing a range of non-lexical vocalizations like grunts or low hums. Over time, its semantic application narrowed and specialized, evolving from denoting generic vocal sounds to conveying specific interpersonal nuances such as disdain, skepticism, or mild irritation, as well as describing the act of humming a tune. This refinement in meaning occurred without significant alteration to the character's core composition, maintaining its original phonetic and semantic indicators throughout its historical use.
Example Sentences Hide
小明哼了一声。
她哼着歌走路。
爸爸哼了一首老歌。
他哼了一声，转身离开。
妹妹哼着欢快的曲子。
他哼了几句歌词，但记不全。
听到这个建议，他冷哼了一声。
她一边做饭，一边哼着流行的歌曲。