About
The character "吭" is structured as a phono-semantic compound combining the mouth radical (口) with the phonetic component "亢", indicating its early association with vocal functions related to the throat. Etymologically, it initially served as a noun referring to the throat itself, a sense preserved in classical literature and certain fixed expressions. Over centuries, its semantic scope expanded to include the verbal action of producing sound or speaking, derived from the physical organ's role in vocalization, which is now distinguished by the pronunciation kēng, while the original nominal meaning remains under the reading háng. This shift from a concrete anatomical term to an abstract action reflects a natural linguistic adaptation without structural alteration to the character itself.
Example Sentences Hide
小孩子吭了一声。
他不敢吭声。
你为什么总不吭气？
她吭哧了半天才回答。
在会议上，他始终不吭声。
即使被误会，他也没有吭声。
他吭吭哧哧地说明了情况。
面对严厉的指责，他吭都不吭一下。