About
咿 is a phono-semantic compound, originating as the simplified form of 吚. The left side, 口 'mouth', signals that it belongs to the realm of vocalizations and noises. The right side, 伊, serves purely as a phonetic indicator, sharing its pronunciation with the character. It is employed to represent high-pitched sounds, such as the squeaking of a door, the creaking of oars, or the babbling of an infant. Because it functions as an onomatopoeic transcription, it carries no abstract meaning beyond the sounds themselves.
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.