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音节 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
音节yīnjiésyllableHSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #15542, Hard
yīnjié(yin1jie2)yin jie T1
  1. 1syllable
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March 24, 2026

音节(音節)yīnjié(yin1jie2)

音节 (yīn jié) refers to a syllable, which is a fundamental unit of pronunciation in the Chinese language and many others. It typically consists of a vowel sound, which may be preceded or followed by consonants. Understanding syllables is crucial for mastering pronunciation and fluency in Mandarin.

Strokes14Frequency#15542DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry and music, the concept of 音节 is vital as it influences rhythm and flow. Traditional Chinese poetry often relies on the number of syllables to create patterns, reflecting the importance of sound in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Think of 音 (yīn) as 'sound' and 杆 (jié) as 'stick' — together, they create the 'stick of sound' that holds the syllable together. Visualize a musical note (音) being played on a stick (节), representing how syllables form the melody of speech.

Meanings of 音节

yīnjié(yin1jie2)
1syllable
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 音节

音节Simplified
音節Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 音节

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Podcast: 音节

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AI Study Notes for 音节

Quick Contrast

音素 (yīnsù) vs 音节 (yīnjié): 音素 refers to a phoneme, the smallest unit of sound, while 音节 refers to a syllable, which is a larger unit that can contain one or more phonemes.

Usage Notes

音节 is commonly used in linguistic contexts, especially in phonetics and language learning. A frequent mistake is confusing it with 词 (cí), which means 'word'; remember that a word can consist of multiple 音节. The term is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

HSK Study Tips

While 音节 is not specifically listed in HSK vocabulary, it is important for understanding how characters combine to form words. Students should focus on the structure of Mandarin syllables to improve their pronunciation skills, which is crucial for HSK exams.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 音节 with other linguistic terms like 词 (word) or 句 (sentence). For example, saying '我有三个词' (wǒ yǒu sān gè cí) when referring to syllables instead of '我有三个音节' (wǒ yǒu sān gè yīn jié) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 音节

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Learning Lab

Knowing 音节 is seven skills, not one.

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

音yīnsound
HSK 39 strokes音
View full entry
节jiéfestival
HSK 35 strokes艹
View full entry

How to say syllable in Chinese

“syllable” in Chinese is音节yīnjié

音节 (yīn jié) refers to a syllable, which is a fundamental unit of pronunciation in the Chinese language and many others. It typically consists of a vowel sound, which may be preceded or followed by consonants. Understanding syllables is crucial for mastering pronunciation and fluency in Mandarin.

When to use 音节

音节 is commonly used in linguistic contexts, especially in phonetics and language learning. A frequent mistake is confusing it with 词 (cí), which means 'word'; remember that a word can consist of multiple 音节. The term is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

音节 or something close to it

音素 (yīnsù) vs 音节 (yīnjié): 音素 refers to a phoneme, the smallest unit of sound, while 音节 refers to a syllable, which is a larger unit that can contain one or more phonemes.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 音节 with other linguistic terms like 词 (word) or 句 (sentence). For example, saying '我有三个词' (wǒ yǒu sān gè cí) when referring to syllables instead of '我有三个音节' (wǒ yǒu sān gè yīn jié) is incorrect.

Write 音节

音
节

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Frequently Asked Questions about 音节

An 音节 is a syllable, which is a unit of sound that typically includes a vowel and may have consonants.

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