咽喉 (yān hóu) — throat (anatomical); (figurative) vital passage, strategic point, bottleneck

Definition

Literary/formal word for the throat; 比 喉咙 more written. Figuratively, a 'vital passage' or bottleneck — close to 瓶颈 but broader than just obstacles (e.g., a strategic port).

noun
throat (anatomical)(figurative) vital passagestrategic pointbottleneck
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • ，咽喉。
    Tā gǎn mào le, yān hóu yòu hóng yòu zhǒng.
    He has a cold — his throat is red and swollen.
  • 咽喉。
    Zhè ge gǎng kǒu shì hǎi shàng mào yì de yān hóu.
    This port is a vital passage for maritime trade.
  • 咽喉。
    Yī shēng yòng yā shé bǎn jiǎn chá le tā de yān hóu.
    The doctor used a tongue depressor to examine her throat.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

咽yànthroat
喉hóuthroat

咽喉 joins 咽 and 喉, both naming parts of the throat, to mean throat.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
因
因yīn咽yàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 咽, 口 is mouth, showing it is connected to the mouth or throat; 因 gives the sound.

Open 咽 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
侯
侯hóu喉hóu
Same sound today

喉 combines 口, a mouth, with 侯, which gives its sound.

Open 喉 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Body Parts

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