口吻 (kǒu wěn) — (noun) muzzle, snout (of an animal); (noun) ton…

Definition

Means 'tone of voice' — the attitude or emotion a speaker's words reveal (e.g. 温和的/不客气的口吻). The animal-snout sense is rare and figurative.

noun

muzzlesnout (of an animal)tone of voicenote (revealing attitude)

Measure word · 个

口吻。
Gǒu de kǒu wěn hěn shī.
The dog's muzzle is very wet.
口吻。
Tā shuō huà de kǒu wěn hěn bú kè qi.
The tone of his speech is very impolite.
口吻。
Tā de kǒu wěn fēi cháng wēn hé.
Her tone is very gentle.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

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

口勿吻

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

勿

勿wù吻wěn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

吻 pairs 口 (mouth) with 勿, which gives the sound.

Appears in