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噎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
噎yēto choke; to hiccupzg, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #11461, Very Hard
噎yēto choke (on)unknown, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #11461, Very Hard
噎yēto choke upunknown, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #11461, Very Hard
噎yēto suffocateunknown, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #11461, Very Hard
yē(ye1) T1
  1. 1to choke; to hiccup
  2. 2to choke (on)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

噎yē(ye1)

The character 噎 (yē) primarily refers to the act of choking or suffocating, often due to obstructed breathing or food lodged in the throat. It can also describe the physical response of hiccups or situations where someone is emotionally overwhelmed, leading to a figurative 'choking up.' This word is commonly used in contexts related to health or emotional expression.

Strokes15Radical口Frequency#11461DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, choking is often seen as a sign of an imbalance in the body's qi, reflecting a broader cultural understanding of health that emphasizes harmony and balance.

Memory Tip

Imagine someone trying to swallow a huge piece of food that gets stuck in their throat, making them go 'yē!' The character 噎 looks like a person with a mouth open wide (口) in distress, emphasizing the choking aspect. The '噎' sounds like 'eh!' which is the sound someone might make when choking.

Meanings of 噎

yē(ye1)
1to choke; to hiccup
2to choke (on)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 噎

噎Simplified
15Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 噎

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Podcast: 噎

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AI Study Notes for 噎

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone, as 'yē' has a flat, high tone that is distinct from other similar sounds. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be aware that it can sound dramatic in casual conversations. Common collocations include 噎住 (yē zhù - to choke on something) and 噎得 (yē de - to be choked up).

HSK Study Tips

While 噎 is not part of the official HSK levels, it can be relevant for learners at HSK 3 or 4 due to its usage in health-related discussions. Focus on recognizing the character in context and practicing its pronunciation to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 噎 with other similar-sounding words, such as 叶 (yè - leaf) or 也 (yě - also). It's important to remember the context of choking or suffocating to use 噎 correctly.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 噎

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Etymology of 噎

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)口
+
Phonetic (sound)壹
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 噎

  1. 1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half壹 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymouth
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 噎? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 噎?

Decomposition of 噎

IDS Structure⿰口壹
噎Full Character
=
口kou3
left
壹yi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 噎?

How to say to choke; to hiccup in Chinese

“to choke; to hiccup” in Chinese is噎yē

The character 噎 (yē) primarily refers to the act of choking or suffocating, often due to obstructed breathing or food lodged in the throat. It can also describe the physical response of hiccups or situations where someone is emotionally overwhelmed, leading to a figurative 'choking up.' This word is commonly used in contexts related to health or emotional expression.

When to use 噎

Be cautious with the tone, as 'yē' has a flat, high tone that is distinct from other similar sounds. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be aware that it can sound dramatic in casual conversations. Common collocations include 噎住 (yē zhù - to choke on something) and 噎得 (yē de - to be choked up).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 噎 with other similar-sounding words, such as 叶 (yè - leaf) or 也 (yě - also). It's important to remember the context of choking or suffocating to use 噎 correctly.

Write 噎

噎

Practice writing 噎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 噎

Words Containing This Character6
噎yēto choke (on)
噎住to choke (on)
因噎废食to avoid sth essential because of a slight risk因噎廢食
抽噎to sob
抽抽噎噎to sob and sniffle
哽噎to choke on one's food
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 噎 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 噎

It is pronounced as 'yē' with a high-level tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 噎?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.