Meanings of 呜咽
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Podcast: 呜咽
Podcast: 呜咽
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AI study notes for 呜咽
啜泣 (chuòqì) vs 呜咽 (wūyè) — choose 呜咽 for a softer, quieter expression of sorrow, while 啜泣 suggests a more pronounced, audible crying.
呜咽 is generally used in more emotional or intimate contexts, making it more appropriate for personal conversations than formal settings. A common mistake is confusing it with louder crying sounds, like 哭 (kū), which means to cry. Be mindful of the tone; using it inappropriately may sound overly dramatic.
While 呜咽 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it uses components and sounds common in HSK Level 3 and above. Students should focus on understanding emotional expressions, as they are frequently encountered in literature and conversation.
Learners may confuse 呜咽 with louder crying terms, leading to sentences like '他在呜咽大声' (tā zài wū yè dà shēng), which incorrectly implies loudness. The correct form would be '他在呜咽' (tā zài wū yè) to convey soft sobbing.
Pronunciation of 呜咽
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Learning Lab
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Component characters
How to say to sob in Chinese
“to sob” in Chinese is呜咽
呜咽 (wū yè) refers to the sound of sobbing or whimpering, often expressing deep emotional pain or sadness. This word is commonly used in contexts where someone is quietly crying, indicating a sense of vulnerability or distress rather than loud crying. It carries a nuance of tenderness and fragility.
When to use 呜咽
呜咽 is generally used in more emotional or intimate contexts, making it more appropriate for personal conversations than formal settings. A common mistake is confusing it with louder crying sounds, like 哭 (kū), which means to cry. Be mindful of the tone; using it inappropriately may sound overly dramatic.
呜咽 or something close to it
啜泣 (chuòqì) vs 呜咽 (wūyè) — choose 呜咽 for a softer, quieter expression of sorrow, while 啜泣 suggests a more pronounced, audible crying.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 呜咽 with louder crying terms, leading to sentences like '他在呜咽大声' (tā zài wū yè dà shēng), which incorrectly implies loudness. The correct form would be '他在呜咽' (tā zài wū yè) to convey soft sobbing.
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Frequently asked questions about 呜咽
呜咽 (wū yè) refers to soft sobbing or whimpering, while 哭 (kū) is a general term for crying, often louder and more expressive.
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