嘘声 (xū shēng) — hissing, hooting, or catcall (a sound expressin… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A collective noun for a disapproving audience sound — hissing, booing, or a 'shh' — directed at a performer or used to call for quiet. The verb 嘘 (xū) is the corresponding action of making that sound.

noun

hissinghootingor catcall (a sound expressing disapproval, booing, or a request for quiet)

Examples

嘘声。
Guān zhòng men duì cái pàn de pàn jué fā chū le bù mǎn de xū shēng.
The audience made dissatisfied hissing sounds at the referee's decision.
嘘声。
Yǎn jiǎng zhě bèi tái xià de xū shēng dǎ duàn le.
The speaker was interrupted by catcalls from the audience.
嘘声，。
Tú shū guǎn lǐ chuán lái yī shēng qīng qīng de xū shēng, tí xǐng dà jiā ān jìng.
A soft hushing sound came from the library, reminding everyone to be quiet.

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.

嘘 (hiss) and 声 (sound) combine to mean a hissing, hooting, or hushing sound.

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 噓; 嘘 is its simplified writing.

口虛噓

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

虛

虛xū噓xū

Same sound today

The traditional form 噓 combines 口, showing the mouth, with 虛 for sound and a sense of emptiness. The simplified 嘘 is a later shorthand.

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 聲; 声 is its simplified writing.

殸耳聲

Meaning part形符xíngfú

耳耳ěrear

Sound part声符shēngfú

殸

殸qìng聲shēng

Same sound today

The traditional form 聲 pairs 耳 (ear) with 殸 as a sound part; the simplified 声 is a shorthand and does not show those original parts.

Appears in

Communication & Speech

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