余音 (yú yīn) — lingering sound (often used in literary contexts)

Definition

A literary, almost poetic word for the 'lingering sound' or resonance that remains after music or a voice stops. Almost always appears in the set phrase 余音绕梁 (sounds that seem to circle the rafters).

noun
lingering sound (often used in literary contexts)
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，余音，。
    Yīn yuè tīng lǐ, yú yīn rào liáng, jiǔ jiǔ bú sàn.
    In the concert hall, the lingering sound wound around the rafters and did not disperse for a long time.
  • 余音。
    Zhè shǒu gǔ qín qǔ de yú yīn ràng rén huí wèi wú qióng.
    The lingering sound of this guqin piece leaves people with endless aftertaste.
  • ，余音。
    Suī rán yīn yuè huì jié shù le, dàn nà xiē yú yīn réng zài ěr biān huí xiǎng.
    Although the concert ended, those lingering sounds still echo in the ears.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

余yúlingering
音yīnsound

余 (lingering) and 音 (sound) together mean a sound that lingers.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 餘; 余 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
食食shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú餘Yú
Same sound today

The traditional form 餘 pairs 食 (food) with 余 as its sound part; the simplified 余 is a later abbreviation.

Open 余 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

音 adds a short stroke that seals the mouth-like part, showing a covered or muffled sound rather than speech.

Open 音 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.