Definitions

liáo used in 嘹亮[liáo liàng] and 嘹喨[liáo liàng]

Etymology phono-semantic

mouth

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound character that conveys the quality of a clear, resonant vocal sound. Its left-side component, the semantic radical (kǒu, 'mouth'), indicates that the meaning relates to sounds produced by the mouth, such as speaking, calling, or singing. The right-side component, (liáo), functions as the phonetic, supplying the character's pronunciation. Together, they denote a loud, clear, and resonant sound that is often high-pitched or piercing, like a ringing cry or the clarity of a singing voice. This structure links the mouth, the source of vocalization, with the phonetic element to express the idea of a penetrating, audible clarity.