哑

啞

yā, yǎ

亚 + 口

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

yǎ (adjective) mute; dumb; hoarse

yǎ (adjective) unexploded (of shells)

yā (noun) sound of crying; wailing

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 亚 represents the sound. Simplified form of 啞.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 亚

About

哑 is a phono-semantic compound describing the inability to speak or a muted, hoarse sound. Its structure combines the semantic mouth radical 口 on the left, indicating a connection to vocalization, with the phonetic component 亚 (or 亞 in the traditional form 啞) on the right, which provides the pronunciation. The meaning covers both the physiological loss of speech and the temporary loss of voice, and extends to describe objects that produce a dull, non-resonant sound when struck.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的声音沙哑了。

Wǒ de shēngyīn shāyǎ le.

My voice became hoarse.

那个哑巴不能说话。

Nàge yǎba bù néng shuōhuà.

That mute person cannot speak.

他每天举哑铃锻炼。

Tā měitiān jǔ yǎlíng duànliàn.

He lifts dumbbells to exercise every day.

我们看了一场哑剧。

Wǒmen kànle yī chǎng yǎjù.

We watched a mime show.

聋哑人使用手语交流。

Lóngyǎ rén shǐyòng shǒuyǔ jiāoliú.

Deaf-mute people use sign language to communicate.

因为感冒，他的嗓子哑了。

Yīnwèi gǎnmào, tā de sǎngzi yǎ le.

Because of a cold, his throat became hoarse.

在嘈杂的环境中，他喊哑了嗓子。

Zài cáozá de huánjìng zhōng, tā hǎn yǎ le sǎngzi.

In the noisy environment, he shouted his voice hoarse.

尽管他天生哑巴，但通过努力学会了阅读和写作。

Jǐnguǎn tā tiānshēng yǎba, dàn tōngguò nǔlì xuéhuì le yuèdú hé xiězuò.

Although he was born mute, through effort he learned to read and write.

Related Characters

Component: 亚

Component: 口

哑