阿嚏 (ā tì) — (onomatopoeia) achoo! — the sound of a sneeze

Definition

Onomatopoeia for the sound of a sneeze ('achoo!'), used as an exclamation when one sneezes. Pairs with 喷嚏 (pēntì, the sneeze itself) — 阿嚏 is the sound, 喷嚏 is the act.

onomatopoeia
achoo! — the sound of a sneeze

Examples

  • 阿嚏！，。
    ā tì! Bù hǎo yì si, wǒ gǎn mào le.
    Achoo! Sorry, I have a cold.
  • ：“阿嚏阿嚏阿嚏！”
    Tā tū rán dǎ le ge pēn tì: "ā tì ā tì ā tì!"
    He suddenly sneezed: 'Achoo!'
  • 阿嚏，？
    ā tì, Shuí zài niàn dao wǒ?
    Achoo! Who's thinking of me?

Origin

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
阜阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
可
可kě阿ā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The part 阜 points to a mound, and 可 gives the pronunciation; 阿 originally meant a big mound.

Open 阿 →

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kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
疐
疐dì嚏tì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

嚏 pairs 口, which relates to the mouth, with 疐, which gives the character its sound.

Open 嚏 →

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