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嗓子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
嗓子sǎngzithroatHSK 6, n, 16 strokes, rank #7229, Hard
嗓子sǎngzivoiceHSK 6, n, 16 strokes, rank #7229, Hard
sǎngzi(sang3zi5)sang zi T3
  1. 1throat
  2. 2voice
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March 24, 2026

嗓子sǎngzi(sang3zi5)

嗓子 (sǎngzi) refers to the throat or voice, often used to describe one's vocal cords or the sound produced while speaking or singing. In daily conversation, it can also indicate the condition of one's voice, such as being hoarse or sore, particularly after illness or stress.

Strokes16Frequency#7229DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the state of one's 嗓子 is often linked to social and professional situations, such as speaking engagements or performances. It’s common to hear advice on taking care of one's voice, especially among singers and public speakers during seasonal changes.

Memory Tip

Imagine a singing 'sang' (sǎng) bird perched on your throat (嗓子). The bird represents your voice, fluttering and singing beautifully, which helps you remember that 嗓子 relates to both throat and voice. Visualize the bird getting hoarse if it sings too much, linking throat discomfort with the word.

Meanings of 嗓子

sǎngzi(sang3zi5)
1throat
2voice
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 嗓子

嗓子Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7229Frequency Rank
把Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 嗓子

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Podcast: 嗓子

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AI Study Notes for 嗓子

Quick Contrast

嗓音 (sǎngyīn) - use 嗓子 for the physical throat or voice, while 嗓音 emphasizes the quality or tone of the sound produced.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 嗓子 with 喉咙 (hóulóng), which specifically refers to the throat's anatomy. 嗓子 is more informal and often used in everyday speech to discuss voice quality. It's common to hear phrases like '我的嗓子不太好' (My voice is not very good).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 嗓子 connects with vocabulary related to health and communication. Students should practice using it in sentences about voice characteristics and health issues, enhancing their ability to discuss personal experiences or observations regarding speech.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 嗓子 with the more formal 喉咙 (hóulóng) when discussing throat conditions. For example, saying '我的喉咙不太好' (My throat is not very good) is correct but less common; using 嗓子 is more natural in conversation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嗓子

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Component Characters

嗓sǎngthroat
13 strokes口
View full entry
子zison
HSK 33 strokes子
View full entry

How to say throat in Chinese

“throat” in Chinese is嗓子sǎngzi

嗓子 (sǎngzi) refers to the throat or voice, often used to describe one's vocal cords or the sound produced while speaking or singing. In daily conversation, it can also indicate the condition of one's voice, such as being hoarse or sore, particularly after illness or stress.

When to use 嗓子

Be careful not to confuse 嗓子 with 喉咙 (hóulóng), which specifically refers to the throat's anatomy. 嗓子 is more informal and often used in everyday speech to discuss voice quality. It's common to hear phrases like '我的嗓子不太好' (My voice is not very good).

嗓子 or something close to it

嗓音 (sǎngyīn) - use 嗓子 for the physical throat or voice, while 嗓音 emphasizes the quality or tone of the sound produced.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 嗓子 with the more formal 喉咙 (hóulóng) when discussing throat conditions. For example, saying '我的喉咙不太好' (My throat is not very good) is correct but less common; using 嗓子 is more natural in conversation.

Write 嗓子

嗓
子

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

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Grammar Patterns of 嗓子

嗓子 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 2 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

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

克罗斯清了清____，开始有礼貌地低声说话。

Cross cleared his throat and spoke in low, polite tones.

Example Sentences for 嗓子 (10)

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1
克罗斯清了清嗓子，开始有礼貌地低声说话。

kè luó sī qīng le qīng sǎng zǐ， ， kāi shǐ yǒu lǐ mào dì dī shēng shuō。

Cross cleared his throat and spoke in low, polite tones.
2
他很幸运,有一副好嗓子.

tā hěn xìng yùn, , yǒu yī fù hǎo sǎng.

He is the fortunate possessor of a fine singing voice.
3
感冒开始时通常会流鼻涕、嗓子发干。

gǎn mào kāi shǐ shí tōng cháng huì liú bí tì、 、 sǎng zǐ fā。

A cold usually starts with a streaming nose and dry throat.
4
她嗓子里的血腥味让她直恶心。

tā sǎng zǐ lǐ de xiě xīng wèi ràng tā zhí è xīn。

The taste of blood in her throat made her want to vomit.
5
一小群英国人挥舞着国旗，吼得嗓子都沙哑了。

yī xiǎo qún yīng guó rén huī wǔ zháo guó qí， ， hǒu dé sǎng zǐ dū shā yǎ。

The small British crowd roared themselves hoarse, waving their Union Jacks.
6
梅尔清了几次嗓子，又接着往下说。

méi ěr qīng le jī cì sǎng zǐ， ， yòu jiē zháo wǎng xià。

Meer cleared his throat several times before he went on.
7
他像嗓子被勒住似的嘎叫了一声。

tā xiàng sǎng zǐ bèi lè zhù sì de gā jiào le yī shēng。

He gave a strangulated squawk.
8
又高又尖的嗓子

yòu gāo yòu jiān de sǎng zǐ

a high squeaky voice
9
对我的嗓子来说,这首歌的音定得太高了.

duì wǒ de sǎng zǐ lái shuō, , zhè shǒu gē de yīn dìng dé tài gāo.

This song is pitched too high for my voice.
10
她的嗓子真亮.

tā de sǎng zǐ zhēn liàng.

She has a resonant voice.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 嗓子

You can say '我的嗓子痛' (Wǒ de sǎngzi tòng).

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