咽喉 (yān hóu) — throat (anatomical); (figurative) vital passage… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary/formal word for the throat; 比喉咙 more written. Figuratively, a 'vital passage' or bottleneck — close to 瓶颈 but broader than just obstacles (e.g., a strategic port).

noun

throat (anatomical)(figurative) vital passagestrategic pointbottleneck

Measure word · 个

Examples

，咽喉。
Tā gǎn mào le, yān hóu yòu hóng yòu zhǒng.
He has a cold — his throat is red and swollen.
咽喉。
Zhè ge gǎng kǒu shì hǎi shàng mào yì de yān hóu.
This port is a vital passage for maritime trade.
咽喉。
Yī shēng yòng yā shé bǎn jiǎn chá le tā de yān hóu.
The doctor used a tongue depressor to examine her throat.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

咽喉 joins 咽 and 喉, both naming parts of the throat, to mean throat.

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.

口因咽

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

因

因yīn咽yàn

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

In 咽, 口 is mouth, showing it is connected to the mouth or throat; 因 gives the sound.

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

口侯喉

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

侯

侯hóu喉hóu

Same sound today

喉 combines 口, a mouth, with 侯, which gives its sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Body Parts

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