唖 (yǎ) - Mute & dumb

唖Tone 3

yǎ ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

信嫣

唖 · yǎ

Mute;

dumb;

speechless;

silent;

unable to speak.

Mutedumbspeechless

Usage highlights

Mute personSpeechlessMute childDumbstruckMutenessRemain silent

Synonyms

  • 哑— Mute; dumb (simplified equivalent)
  • 默— Silent; quiet

Antonyms

  • 言— Speech; words
  • 語— Language; to speak

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was born mute (生来唖).
  • The shocking news left her speechless (令人唖然).
  • The mute child communicates through gestures (唖儿).
  • He remained silent throughout the debate (唖默).

Collocations

  • Mute person(唖者)
  • Speechless(唖然)
  • Mute child(唖儿)
  • Dumbstruck(唖口)
  • Muteness(唖症)
  • Remain silent(唖默)

Idioms

  • Dumbstruck and tongue-tied(唖口無言)
  • Like a mute tasting bitterness(唖巴吃黃連)
  • Struck dumb with amazement(唖然失色)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used to describe physical muteness or speech impairment.
  • In modern contexts, often replaced by more respectful terms when referring to people with disabilities.
  • Appears in idioms expressing speechlessness due to shock or inability to articulate.

FAQ