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March 24, 2026
音yīn(yin1)
The character 音 (yīn) primarily means 'sound' or 'noise' and is used in various contexts such as music, speech, and auditory phenomena. It also represents musical notes and phonetic values, making it essential in discussions about tone and pronunciation in Mandarin. In addition, it can refer to news or information in certain contexts, especially when combined with other characters.
Strokes9Radical音Frequency#2855DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 音 is often associated with music and poetry, reflecting the traditional value placed on harmony and sound in art and daily life. The importance of tones in Mandarin also highlights the cultural significance of sound in communication.
Memory Tip
Think of 音 (yīn) as a 'yin-yang' sound, where the left side (口) represents the mouth producing sound and the right side (音) symbolizes the concept of sound itself. Imagine a musician playing a note that resonates in harmony, creating a vivid soundscape in your mind.
Meanings of 音
yīn(yin1)
1sound
2noise
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 音
音Simplified
9Strokes
音Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2855Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3
Podcast: 音
Podcast: 音
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AI Study Notes for 音
Quick Contrast
声 (shēng) refers specifically to 'voice' or 'sound' produced by a living being, while 音 (yīn) encompasses a broader range of sounds, including musical tones.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 音 (yīn) as a 'yin-yang' sound, where the left side (口) represents the mouth producing sound and the right side (音) symbolizes the concept of sound itself. Imagine a musician playing a note that resonates in harmony, creating a vivid soundscape in your mind.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the pronunciation, as it carries a first tone (high and level) which can be easily confused with other tones. Common collocations include 音乐 (yīnyuè - music) and 音调 (yīndiào - tone). This character is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
HSK Study Tips
音 (yīn) is often encountered in HSK 2 and 3 vocabulary, especially in terms related to music and sound. Students should focus on its pronunciation and its combination with other characters to form compound words, enhancing their vocabulary around auditory concepts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 音 is often associated with music and poetry, reflecting the traditional value placed on harmony and sound in art and daily life. The importance of tones in Mandarin also highlights the cultural significance of sound in communication.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 音 with similar-sounding characters like 银 (yín - silver) due to tonal mistakes. For instance, saying 银 instead of 音 can change the meaning completely. Always remember to use the first tone for 音.
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Pronunciation of 音
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Pictograph of sound (represented with one or two horizontal lines) coming from a tongue (舌). In seal script, identical to 言 (speech) except with a dot or line added to the middle of the 口 (mouth) component.
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Grammar Patterns of 音
音 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
I answered the phone and this voice went, "Hello? Is that Alison?"
10
他们听见酒瓶摔碎的声音，然后是一阵更喧闹的笑声。
tā mén tīng jiàn jiǔ píng shuāi suì de shēng yīn， ， rán hòu shì yī zhèn gēng xuān nào de xiào。
They heard a bottle being smashed, then more raucous laughter.
Cultural Notes for 音
💡Did you know?
在中国传统音乐中，‘音’不仅指声音，还包括音阶和音调的变化，影响了音乐的表现和情感。
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, 音 is often associated with music and poetry, reflecting the traditional value placed on harmony and sound in art and daily life. The importance of tones in Mandarin also highlights the cultural significance of sound in communication.
Word Family of 音
Compounds34
暗an4variant of 暗[àn]
韵yun4rhyme; vowel
黯an4 black; dark; sullen, dreary
谙an1well-versed in, fully acquainted with
韶Shao2beautiful, excellent, harmonious; music from the Shun dynasty
窨xun1cellar, storeroom
闇
喑yin1dumb, mute; the sobbing of an infant
響xiang3to make noise, to make sound; sound
愔
戠zhi1sword; potter's clay; to gather
揞an3to cover, to conceal; to apply medicine or make-up
歆xin1to like, to admire; willingly, gladly
瘖
萻
韹
韺
頀
偣
堷
摿
湆
罯
腤
諳an1well-versed in, fully acquainted with
隌
韴
韷
韸
韻yun4rhyme; vowel
韼
韽
韾
鶕
Words Containing This Character20
音乐yīnyuèmusic音樂
声音shēngyīnvoice聲音
音yīnsound
录音lùyīnto record (sound)錄音
语音yǔyīnspeech sounds語音
音乐会yīnyuèhuìconcert音樂會
口音kǒuyīnvoice
噪音zàoyīnrumble
收音机shōuyīnjīradio收音機
音响yīnxiǎngsound音響
嗓音voice
发音to pronounce發音
音频audio音頻
音乐家musician音樂家
配音pèiyīndubbing (filmmaking)
音像yīnxiàngaudio and video
福音good news
音量yīnliàngsound volume
音箱loudspeaker box
观音Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion or Goddess of Mercy (Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara)觀音
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 暗 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 音
音 (yīn) and 声 (shēng) both relate to sound, but they have different nuances. 音 refers more to musical notes and sounds, while 声 typically refers to voices or sounds in a more general sense. For example, '声音' (shēngyīn) means 'sound' or 'voice', emphasizing the source of the sound.
In musical contexts, 音 (yīn) is often used to denote musical notes or tones. For instance, in the context of musical scales, you may encounter terms like '音阶' (yīnjiē), which means 'scale'. Understanding how to use 音 in music can enhance your comprehension of Chinese musical terminology.
音 (yīn) means 'sound' or 'noise' in Chinese. It can refer to various types of sounds, including musical notes and tones. Additionally, it can also mean 'news' or 'syllable' depending on the context in which it is used.
音 (yīn) can be used in sentences to describe sound or music. For example, you could say '这个音乐的音很好听' which translates to 'The sound of this music is beautiful.' It's also used in phrases like '音调' (yīndiào) meaning 'tone' or 'pitch'.
音 is pronounced with a high, level tone (yīn). Practice saying it with a clear, sustained pitch.
Yes, 音 can refer to various forms of sound, including musical notes and spoken tones, so context is key.
