嘤 (yīng) — (onomatopoeia) chirping of birds; (onomatopoeia) sob, whimper
Definition
Literary onomatopoeia for soft sounds: birdsong (嘤嘤) and quiet crying or whimpering. Used in writing more than in everyday speech.
onomatopoeia
chirping of birdssobwhimper
Easily confused
- 樱yīnglook-alike(bound form) cherry (blossom or fruit)
- 英yīngsound-alike(bound form) hero; outstanding talent
- 鹰yīngsound-alikeeagle; hawk; falcon
- 婴yīngsound-alikeinfant (bound form, used in compounds)
- 莺yīngsound-alike(bound form) oriole; warbler (a type of songbird)
- 膺yīngsound-alike(bound form) to bear, to receive (e.g., 膺命, 膺选)
Examples
- 嘤嘤。Chuāng wài chuán lái xiǎo niǎo yīng yīng de jiào shēng.From outside the window came the chirping of birds.
- 嘤嘤，。Tā dī shēng yīng yīng dì kū, shí fēn shāng xīn.She sobbed quietly, very sad.
- 嘤嘤。Shù shàng de xiǎo niǎo fā chū yīng yīng de jiào shēng.The birds in the tree let out a chirping call.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 嚶; 嘤 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
嬰
嬰yīng嚶yīng
Same sound today
The traditional form 嚶 combines 口 (mouth) with 嬰, which gives the sound; the simplified 嘤 is a later shorthand, so this shape story is about 嚶.
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