哽 (gěng) - to choke & to have a lump in one's throat

哽Tone 3

gěng ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

哽 · gěng

to choke;

to have a lump in one's throat;

to block or obstruct

to choketo have a lump in one's throatto block or obstruct

Usage highlights

choke with emotionchoked voicelump in the throatchoking feelingchoke back tearschoke on food

Synonyms

  • 噎— to choke on food
  • 塞— to block or obstruct
  • 阻— to hinder or block

Antonyms

  • 畅— smooth, unobstructed
  • 通— open, clear
  • 顺— fluent, smooth

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She choked with emotion (哽咽).
  • I have a lump in my throat (喉咙哽咽).
  • The food got stuck in his throat (食物哽在喉咙里).
  • He spoke with a choked voice (声音哽咽地说).

Collocations

  • choke with emotion(哽咽)
  • choked voice(哽噎)
  • lump in the throat(喉咙哽住)
  • choking feeling(哽塞)
  • choke back tears(哽住眼泪)
  • choke on food(食物哽喉)

Idioms

  • Choked with emotion, unable to speak(哽咽难言)
  • Choking back tears(哽咽吞声)
  • Too choked up to continue(哽咽不能语)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used in classical Chinese poetry to describe emotional suppression and unspoken grief
  • Associated with the concept of 'yu jie' (郁结) - emotional stagnation in traditional Chinese medicine
  • Commonly appears in descriptions of farewell scenes and emotional moments in literature

FAQ