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口型 (kǒu xíng) — the shape of the mouth when speaking or producing a sound; lip position (in pronunciation or singing)

Definition

A specialized term in pronunciation and singing instruction for the visible shape your lips and mouth take when producing a sound. Not the same as 口形 (synonymous variant) — used when teaching correct articulation.

noun
the shape of the mouth when speaking or producing a soundlip position (in pronunciation or singing)

Examples

  • ，口型。
    Fā yīn shí, zhèng què de kǒu xíng hěn zhòng yào.
    When pronouncing, the correct mouth shape is very important.
  • 口型。
    Lǎo shī jiào wǒ men měi gè yīn de kǒu xíng.
    The teacher taught us the mouth shape for each sound.
  • ，口型。
    Fā zhè ge yīn shí, kǒu xíng shì yuán xíng de.
    When making this sound, the mouth shape is round.

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.

口kǒumouth
型xíngshape

口型 combines 口 (mouth) and 型 (shape), meaning the mouth shape used when producing speech sounds.

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.

Open 口 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
刑
刑xíng型xíng
Same sound today

型 pairs 土 (earth) with 刑, which supplies the sound; the shape shows an earthen mold, hence form or pattern.

Open 型 →
Appears in
Body PartsLanguage

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