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音 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
音yīnsoundHSK 3, n, 9 strokes, radical 音, rank #2855, Medium
音yīnnoiseHSK 3, n, 9 strokes, radical 音, rank #2855, Medium
音yīnnote (of musical scale)HSK 3, n, 9 strokes, radical 音, rank #2855, Medium
音yīntoneHSK 3, n, 9 strokes, radical 音, rank #2855, Medium
音yīnnewsHSK 3, n, 9 strokes, radical 音, rank #2855, Medium
音yīnsyllableHSK 3, n, 9 strokes, radical 音, rank #2855, Medium
音yīnreading (phonetic value of a character)HSK 3, n, 9 strokes, radical 音, rank #2855, Medium
音yīnsound, tone, pitch, pronunciationHSK 3, n, 9 strokes, radical 音, rank #2855, Medium
yīn(yin1)yin T1
  1. 1sound
  2. 2noise
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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#2855DifficultyMedium
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

By ear

Play it, then pick what 音 means.

About 音

音Simplified
9Strokes
音Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2855Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3

Podcast: 音

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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.

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.

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.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 音

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Etymology of 音

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

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.

Memory hint

A tongue 立 forming a sound in the mouth 日

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 音?

Decomposition of 音

IDS Structure⿱立日
音Full character
=
立Li4
top
日Ri4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 音?

How to say sound in Chinese

“sound” in Chinese is音yīn

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.

When to use 音

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.

音 or something close to it

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.

What learners get wrong

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.

Write 音

音

Practice writing 音 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

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.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

星期天我想去看电影或听____乐会。

On Sunday I want to watch a movie or attend a concert.

Common confusions with 音

音vs印
yìn

Similar shape and pronunciation, but different meanings.

音vs阴
yīn

Same pronunciation, but different meanings and usages.

Exercise 1 of 1

Which one

Which one means “sound”?

or

Example sentences for 音 (22)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
从务实角度来说，音乐电视网的生存依赖于把年轻人市场卖给广告商。

cóng wùshí jiǎodù lái shuō， yīnyuè diànshì wǎng de shēngcún yīlài yú bǎ niánqīng rén shìchǎng mài gěi guǎnggào Shāng。

Pragmatically, MTV's survival depends on selling the youth market to advertisers.
2
我用短波收音机收听最新的战事新闻。

wǒ yòng duǎn Bō shōuyīnjī shōutīng zuì xīn de zhàn shì xīnwén。

I use the short-wave radio to get the latest war news.
3
《每日邮报》的头版标题为“良知的声音”。

《 měi rì yóu bào》 de tóu bǎn biāotí wèi“ liángzhī de shēngyīn”。

The Daily Mail has the headline "The Voice of Conscience"
4
“没错，梅格。”他用冰冷、阴沉的声音答道。

“ méicuò， méi gé。” tā yòng bīng lěng、 yīn chén de shēngyīn dá dào。

"That is correct, Meg," he answered in his cold, dead voice.
5
还没看到他们，我便听到他们穿过矮树丛过来的声音。

hái méi kàndào tāmen， wǒ biàn tīngdào tāmen chuānguò ǎi shù cóng guòlái de shēngyīn。

I heard them coming, crashing through the undergrowth, before I saw them.
6
“那么你认为如何？”她声音嘶哑地悄声问道。

“ nàme nǐ rènwéi rúhé？” tā shēngyīn sī yǎ dì qiāo shēng wèn dào。

"So what do you think?" she said in a hoarse whisper.
7
你融入到音乐、灯光以及身边的人群中。

nǐ róngrù dào yīnyuè、 dēngguāng yǐjí shēnbiān de rénqún zhōng。

You get into the music, the lights and the people around you.
8
“这不是我喜欢的音乐形式。”——“对，这不是。”

“ zhè bùshì wǒ xǐhuan de yīnyuè xíngshì。”——“ duì， zhè bùshì。”

"It's not one of my favourite forms of music." — "No."
9
我拿起电话，就听到这个声音：“喂？是艾利森吗？”

wǒ ná qǐ diànhuà， jiù tīngdào zhège shēngyīn：“ wèi？ shì ài lì sēn ma？”

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。

tāmen tīngjiàn jiǔ píng shuāi suì de shēngyīn， ránhòu shì yízhèn gèng xuānnào de xiàoshēng。

They heard a bottle being smashed, then more raucous laughter.
11
我在树林里听到了鸟的声音，很好听。

Wǒ zài shùlín lǐ tīng dào le niǎo de shēngyīn, hěn hǎotīng.

I heard the sound of birds in the forest, it was very pleasant.
12
这个房间的声音效果不好，我们需要一些改进。

Zhège fángjiān de shēngyīn xiàoguǒ bù hǎo, wǒmen xūyào yīxiē gǎijìn.

The sound effect in this room is not good, we need some improvements.
13
他学会了用吉他弹出美妙的声音。

Tā xuéhuì le yòng jítā tán chū měimiào de shēngyīn.

He learned to play beautiful sounds on the guitar.
14
当我走进教室时，听到老师的声音在讲课。

Dāng wǒ zǒu jìn jiàoshì shí, tīng dào lǎoshī de shēngyīn zài jiǎngkè.

When I walked into the classroom, I heard the sound of the teacher giving a lesson.
15
我在树林里听到了鸟的声音，很好听。

Wǒ zài shùlín lǐ tīng dào le niǎo de shēngyīn, hěn hǎotīng.

I heard the sound of birds in the forest, it was very pleasant.
16
这个房间的声音效果不好，我们需要一些改进。

Zhège fángjiān de shēngyīn xiàoguǒ bù hǎo, wǒmen xūyào yīxiē gǎijìn.

The sound effect in this room is not good, we need some improvements.
17
他学会了用吉他弹出美妙的声音。

Tā xuéhuì le yòng jítā tán chū měimiào de shēngyīn.

He learned to play beautiful sounds on the guitar.
18
当我走进教室时，听到老师的声音在讲课。

Dāng wǒ zǒu jìn jiàoshì shí, tīng dào lǎoshī de shēngyīn zài jiǎngkè.

When I walked into the classroom, I heard the sound of the teacher giving a lesson.
19
我在树林里听到了鸟的声音，很好听。

Wǒ zài shùlín lǐ tīng dào le niǎo de shēngyīn, hěn hǎotīng.

I heard the sound of birds in the forest, it was very pleasant.
20
这个房间的声音效果不好，我们需要一些改进。

Zhège fángjiān de shēngyīn xiàoguǒ bù hǎo, wǒmen xūyào yīxiē gǎijìn.

The sound effect in this room is not good, we need some improvements.
21
他学会了用吉他弹出美妙的声音。

Tā xuéhuì le yòng jítā tán chū měimiào de shēngyīn.

He learned to play beautiful sounds on the guitar.
22
当我走进教室时，听到老师的声音在讲课。

Dāng wǒ zǒu jìn jiàoshì shí, tīng dào lǎoshī de shēngyīn zài jiǎngkè.

When I walked into the classroom, I heard the sound of the teacher giving a lesson.

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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。

Word Family of 音

Compounds34
暗ànvariant of 暗[àn]
韵yùnrhyme; vowel
黯àn black; dark; sullen, dreary
谙ānwell-versed in, fully acquainted with
韶sháobeautiful, excellent, harmonious; music from the Shun dynasty
窨xūncellar, storeroom
闇àn
喑yīndumb, mute; the sobbing of an infant
響xiǎngto make noise, to make sound; sound
愔yīn
戠zhīsword; potter's clay; to gather
揞ǎnto cover, to conceal; to apply medicine or make-up
歆xīnto like, to admire; willingly, gladly
瘖yīn
萻ān
韹huáng
韺yīng
頀hù
偣yān
堷yìn
摿yáo
湆qì
罯ǎn
腤ān
諳ānwell-versed in, fully acquainted with
隌ǎn
韴zá
韷lè
韸péng
韻yùnrhyme; vowel
韼péng
韽ān
韾yīn
鶕ān
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sǎngyīnvoice
发音fāyīnto pronounce發音
音频yīnpínaudio音頻
音乐家yīnyuèjiāmusician音樂家
配音pèiyīndubbing (filmmaking)
音像yīnxiàngaudio and video
福音fúyīngood news
音量yīnliàngsound volume
音箱yīnxiāngloudspeaker box
观音guānyīnGuanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion or Goddess of Mercy (Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara)觀音
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 音

What does 韵 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.

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