响

響

xiǎng

口 + 向

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

xiǎng (verb) to make a sound; to sound; to ring

xiǎng (noun) echo; sound; noise

xiǎng (adjective) loud

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 向 represents the sound. Simplified form of 響.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 向

About

The simplified character 响 replaces its traditional counterpart 響, streamlining a complex phono-semantic structure into a much simpler one. In the traditional form, the phonetic component 鄉 (xiāng) was placed above the semantic radical 音 (yīn, "sound"), directly signaling its acoustic meaning. The modern version moves the semantic indicator to the left, using the mouth radical 口, while 向 (xiàng) on the right acts as the new phonetic. 口 points to sounds produced by the mouth, and 向 provides the pronunciation. This change drastically reduces the stroke count, yet the character continues to denote sound, noise, and echo, functioning as a general term for anything loud or resonant.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他的手机响了。

Tā de shǒujī xiǎng le.

His mobile phone rang.

门铃突然响了。

Ménlíng tūrán xiǎng le.

The doorbell suddenly rang.

他的声音很响亮。

Tā de shēngyīn hěn xiǎngliàng.

His voice is very loud and clear.

教堂的钟声响起。

Jiàotáng de zhōngshēng xiǎngqǐ.

The church bell rang out.

当电话响起时，我正在做饭。

Dāng diànhuà xiǎngqǐ shí, wǒ zhèngzài zuòfàn.

When the phone rang, I was cooking.

他的建议引起了很大反响。

Tā de jiànyì yǐnqǐ le hěn dà fǎnxiǎng.

His suggestion caused a great response.

爆炸声响彻山谷。

Bàozhà shēng xiǎngchè shāngǔ.

The sound of the explosion resounded through the valley.

这项政策在社会上产生了广泛的影响。

Zhè xiàng zhèngcè zài shèhuì shàng chǎnshēng le guǎngfàn de yǐngxiǎng.

This policy has had a widespread impact on society.

Related Characters

Component: 口

Component: 向

响