强音 (qiáng yīn) — (phonetics) primary stress, strong stress; (phonetics) fortis articulation

Definition

A phonetics term for strong stress — the emphasized syllable in a word (主重音), or a fortis consonant articulated with extra force, contrasted with 弱音 (lenis/weak). Used in linguistics study, not everyday speech.

(phonetics) primary stressstrong stress(phonetics) fortis articulation

Examples

  • ，强音。
    Zài zhè jù huà lǐ, qiáng yīn luò zài dì yī gè yīn jié shàng.
    In this sentence, the primary stress falls on the first syllable.
  • 强音。
    Yǔ yán xué kè shàng xué le qiáng yīn hé ruò yīn de qū bié.
    In linguistics class, we learned the difference between fortis and lenis.
  • 强音。
    Hàn yǔ zhōng de qiáng yīn kě yǐ gǎi biàn cí yì.
    Strong stress in Chinese can change the meaning of a word.

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.

强qiángstrong
音yīnsound

强音: 强 (strong) and 音 (sound) form a strong sound, here stress or fortis.

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 強; 强 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 強 pairs an insect component with a sound component; this explains 強, not the simplified 强.

Open 强 →

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 →

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