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March 24, 2026
嗄á(a2)
The character 嗄 (á) primarily means 'hoarse,' often describing a voice that is rough or strained, usually due to illness or fatigue. It can also serve as a variant of the character 啊 (a), which is used to express exclamation or affirmation in informal contexts. Its usage is relatively rare in everyday conversation.
Strokes13Radical口Frequency#23299DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, a hoarse voice is often linked to body imbalances, particularly involving the lungs or throat, reflecting the importance of voice quality in personal health.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person trying to speak but their voice comes out hoarse, like a 'huh' sound. The character 嗄 has a mouth (口) component, suggesting it relates to speaking or voice, while the 'ah' sound in the pinyin á can remind you of how a hoarse voice strains to produce sound.
Meanings of 嗄
á(a2)
primary
1hoarse
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 嗄
嗄Simplified
13Strokes
口Radical
叹词tàncíinterjection (interj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嗄
Podcast: 嗄
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AI Study Notes for 嗄
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person trying to speak but their voice comes out hoarse, like a 'huh' sound. The character 嗄 has a mouth (口) component, suggesting it relates to speaking or voice, while the 'ah' sound in the pinyin á can remind you of how a hoarse voice strains to produce sound.
Usage Notes
Learners might confuse 嗄 with its more common variant 啊; use 嗄 specifically when describing a hoarse voice. It is an informal term, so it may not be suitable for formal writing. A common collocation is '嗄声' (hoarse voice).
HSK Study Tips
Though 嗄 is not included in any HSK level, recognizing it can enhance your understanding of voice-related vocabulary. Focus on related terms that describe sound and voice, which may appear in higher HSK levels.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, a hoarse voice is often linked to body imbalances, particularly involving the lungs or throat, reflecting the importance of voice quality in personal health.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嗄 with 啊, using 嗄 in contexts where 啊 is appropriate, such as exclamations. Correct usage would be saying '我嗄了' (I have a hoarse voice) instead of '我啊了'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嗄
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Grammar Patterns of 嗄
嗄 functions as an interjection — a standalone exclamation. It typically opens the sentence (啊！哎呀！) and is set off by a pause or comma. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 1
Complete the Sentence
他们的木底鞋踩在雪地上吱吱____嗄直响.
Their wooden clogs squeak in the snow.
Example Sentences for 嗄 (1)
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1
他们的木底鞋踩在雪地上吱吱嗄嗄直响.
tā mén de mù dǐ xié cǎi zài xuě dì shàng zhī zhī shà shà zhí xiǎng.
Their wooden clogs squeak in the snow.
Cultural Notes for 嗄
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese medicine, a hoarse voice is often linked to body imbalances, particularly involving the lungs or throat, reflecting the importance of voice quality in personal health.
Word Family of 嗄
Words Containing This Character1
嗄áAh!
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 嗄 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嗄
No, 嗄 is relatively rare and is primarily used in specific contexts relating to voice.
嗄 specifically refers to a hoarse voice, while 啊 is a general exclamatory particle.
Yes, you can also use '嘶哑' (sīyǎ) to describe a hoarse voice.
