吭

háng, kēng
亢 + 口

Definitions

háng (noun) throat
kēng (verb) to utter; to make a sound

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 亢 represents the sound.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 亢

About

吭 is a phono-semantic compound: the radical 口 'mouth' indicates the semantic field of the throat or vocal organs, while 亢 supplies the pronunciation. Historically, it denoted the throat or neck of a bird, but that anatomical sense has largely faded. In modern usage, it means to utter a sound or speak up, and it frequently appears in negative constructions to describe someone remaining completely silent or refusing to speak out.

Example Sentences Hide

小孩子吭了一声。

Xiǎo háizi kēngle yì shēng.

The little child made a sound.

他不敢吭声。

Tā bù gǎn kēngshēng.

He didn't dare to speak up.

你为什么总不吭气？

Nǐ wèishéme zǒng bù kēngqì?

Why do you never say anything?

她吭哧了半天才回答。

Tā kēngchīle bàntiān cái huídá.

She hemmed and hawed for a long time before answering.

在会议上，他始终不吭声。

Zài huìyì shàng, tā shǐzhōng bù kēngshēng.

In the meeting, he never spoke up.

即使被误会，他也没有吭声。

Jíshǐ bèi wùhuì, tā yě méiyǒu kēngshēng.

Even though he was misunderstood, he didn't speak up.

他吭吭哧哧地说明了情况。

Tā kēngkēngchīchī de shuōmíngle qíngkuàng.

He stammered through the explanation of the situation.

面对严厉的指责，他吭都不吭一下。

Miànduì yánlì de zhǐzé, tā kēng dōu bù kēng yíxià.

Faced with harsh accusations, he didn't even utter a sound.

Related Characters

Component: 亢

抗 航 坑 杭 炕 肮 闶 伉 钪 沆 颃 骯 鈧 秔

Component: 口

中 和 可 后 如 同 只 知 高 问 向 或 加 合

Example Words

一声不吭 吭哧 吭声 吭吭 吭气 引吭高歌