咽 (yàn) - To swallow & throat

咽Tone 4

yàn ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

妍嬿

咽 · yàn

To swallow;

throat;

pharynx;

also used figuratively for suppression or absorption.

To swallowthroatpharynx

Usage highlights

SwallowThroatChoke with emotionGulp downSore throatPharyngitis

Synonyms

  • 吞— to swallow
  • 喉— throat

Antonyms

  • 吐— to spit out
  • 呕— to vomit

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Swallow the medicine (咽下).
  • Sore throat (咽喉痛).
  • He choked up with emotion (哽咽).
  • The narrow mountain pass is called a throat (咽喉要地).

Collocations

  • Swallow(吞咽)
  • Throat(咽喉)
  • Choke with emotion(哽咽)
  • Gulp down(咽下)
  • Sore throat(咽痛)
  • Pharyngitis(咽炎)

Idioms

  • Swallow one's anger(咽苦吞甘)
  • Choke with sobs(呜咽)
  • Gulp down one's tears(咽泪装欢)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, the throat (咽喉) is considered a crucial passage for qi and fluids.
  • The character appears in expressions describing emotional suppression, linking physical swallowing to emotional restraint.

FAQ