抽泣 (chōu qì) — to sob, to sob spasmodically

Definition

A vivid verb for 'sobbing in spasms' — broken, hitching cries rather than steady wailing, like 哭. Often used in literary or narrative writing.

verb

to sobto sob spasmodically

，抽泣。
Tā tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi hòu, rěn bú zhù chōu qì qǐ lái.
After hearing the news, she couldn't help sobbing.
，抽泣。
Hái zi kū lèi le, màn màn dì tíng zhǐ le chōu qì.
The child cried until tired and slowly stopped sobbing.
抽泣，。
Tā zuò zài jiǎo luò lǐ dī shēng chōu qì, jiān bǎng wēi wēi chàn dǒu.
He sat in the corner sobbing quietly, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

“抽泣” joins “抽” for gasping or sobbing with “泣” for weeping, for spasmodic crying.

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.

扌由抽

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

由

由yóu抽chōu

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 扌 is the hand form, written in full as 手, and the right part 由 provides the sound.

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

氵立泣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

立

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

泣 pairs 氵 (water) with 立 for the sound. It originally meant tears and later came to mean crying.

Appears in