Definitions

(onomatopoeia) sound of wind or rain
(particle) used in phonetic transcriptions

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "喇" functions as a phono-semantic compound, integrating the mouth radical (口) to imply a connection to sound or speech with the component "剌" acting as a phonetic indicator. Its etymological origins lie in its role as a graphic representation for mimicking sounds, which over time facilitated its entry into onomatopoeic usage. The character’s application gradually broadened, moving from pure sound symbolism to becoming an integral part of lexical compounds, most notably in "喇叭" denoting a trumpet or loudspeaker and "喇嘛" serving as a transliteration for Tibetan Buddhist monks. This shift illustrates a semantic evolution from direct auditory imitation to carrying meaning within specific borrowed or compound terms, while its structural composition has maintained a consistent form throughout its historical use.

Example Sentences Hide

叭声音很大。

Lǎba shēngyīn hěn dà.

The speaker's volume is very loud.

嘛在寺庙里。

Lǎma zài sìmiào lǐ.

The lama is in the temple.

小孩流哈子了。

Xiǎohái liú hālázi le.

The child is drooling.

叭花很漂亮。

Lǎbahua hěn piàoliang.

The morning glory flowers are very beautiful.

他穿着叭裤。

Tā chuānzhe lǎbakù.

He is wearing bell-bottom pants.

叭坏了要修理。

Lǎba huài le yào xiūlǐ.

The speaker is broken and needs to be repaired.

嘛诵经声音低沉。

Lǎma sòngjīng shēngyīn dīchén.

The lama chants scriptures in a low voice.

子弄湿了枕头。

Hālázi nòngshī le zhěntou.

Drool made the pillow wet.