Meanings of 咏
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 咏
Podcast: 咏
Podcast: 咏
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 咏
吟 (yín) - use '咏' for singing or chanting in a poetic context, while '吟' emphasizes the act of reciting or murmuring verses with a reflective tone.
The character '咏' is often used in literary contexts or when referring to traditional poetry. Be careful not to confuse it with '唱' (chàng), which is more general for 'to sing.' It is typically used in a formal or artistic register.
Although '咏' is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to other HSK terms related to music and poetry, such as '歌' (gē, song) and '诗' (shī, poem). Focus on recognizing its use in poetic contexts as you encounter literature.
Learners often confuse '咏' with '唱' (chàng) and use it in casual contexts. For example, saying '我喜欢咏歌曲' (Wǒ xǐhuān yǒng gēqǔ) is incorrect; it should be '我喜欢唱歌曲' (Wǒ xǐhuān chàng gēqǔ), meaning 'I like to sing songs.'
Pronunciation of 咏
Drill the tone of 咏 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 咏
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 永 represents the sound. Simplified form of 詠.
mouth
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 咏
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 永 represents the sound. Simplified form of 詠.
- 1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half永 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymouth
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 咏? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 咏?
Decomposition of 咏
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 咏?
How to say to sing, to hum, to chant in Chinese
“to sing, to hum, to chant” in Chinese is咏
The character '咏' (yǒng) refers to the act of singing, humming, or chanting, often in a poetic or artistic context. It is commonly used to describe reciting poetry or singing songs that convey deep emotions or themes. The character implies a melodic quality to the act of vocal expression.
When to use 咏
The character '咏' is often used in literary contexts or when referring to traditional poetry. Be careful not to confuse it with '唱' (chàng), which is more general for 'to sing.' It is typically used in a formal or artistic register.
咏 or something close to it
吟 (yín) - use '咏' for singing or chanting in a poetic context, while '吟' emphasizes the act of reciting or murmuring verses with a reflective tone.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '咏' with '唱' (chàng) and use it in casual contexts. For example, saying '我喜欢咏歌曲' (Wǒ xǐhuān yǒng gēqǔ) is incorrect; it should be '我喜欢唱歌曲' (Wǒ xǐhuān chàng gēqǔ), meaning 'I like to sing songs.'
Write 咏
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 咏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 咏
咏 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
知名 的有瑞云禅寺 、 水母庙 、 ____归亭 、 碧霞祠等.
There are well - known Ruiyun Temple, jellyfish Temple, Yong - owned kiosks, as Ha Temple.
Example Sentences for 咏 (1)
Word Family of 咏
Compound Meaning
What does 咏 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 咏
While both mean 'to sing,' '咏' is used more in poetic contexts and implies a melodic or artistic quality, whereas '唱' is a more general term for singing.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 咏?
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.