() — battle cry (primarily used in the compound 呐喊)

Definition

呐 is a bound form meaning 'to shout, to cry out' — it never stands alone and almost always appears in the compound 呐喊 (battle cry / to shout). Use it only when you need that compound.

bound form
battle cry (primarily used in the compound 呐喊)

Examples

  • Zhàn shì men fā chū zhèn tiān de nà hǎn shēng.
    The warriors let out a deafening battle cry.
  • Yùn dòng huì shàng, guān zhòng men dà shēng nà hǎn zhù wēi.
    At the sports meet, the audience shouted loudly to cheer.
  • Tā de nà hǎn gǔ wǔ le suǒ yǒu shì bīng.
    His battle cry inspired all the soldiers.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
Same sound today

呐 pairs 口 (mouth) with 内, the part that supplies the sound.

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