喑 (yīn) - Silent, mute & unable to speak

喑Tone 1

yīn ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

懿嘤

喑 · yīn

Silent, mute;

unable to speak;

hoarse, voiceless;

to keep silent.

Silent, muteunable to speakhoarse, voiceless

Usage highlights

Silent and muteBecome hoarseStruck dumbMuffled soundSilent cicadaSilent and deaf

Synonyms

  • 哑— mute, dumb
  • 默— silent, quiet
  • 静— quiet, still

Antonyms

  • 鸣— to sound, to cry
  • 响— loud, noisy
  • 言— to speak, words

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He remained silent (喑哑) throughout the interrogation.
  • The singer's voice became hoarse (嗓子喑哑) after the concert.
  • She was struck dumb (喑然) with shock.
  • The old man could only make muffled sounds (喑呜).

Collocations

  • Silent and mute(喑哑)
  • Become hoarse(喑哑)
  • Struck dumb(喑然)
  • Muffled sound(喑呜)
  • Silent cicada(喑蝉)
  • Silent and deaf(喑聋)

Idioms

  • Silent as a cicada in cold weather(噤若寒蝉)
  • Unable to speak due to shock(目瞪口呆)
  • Keep one's mouth shut and say nothing(缄口不言)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In classical Chinese literature, 喑 often describes someone who has lost their voice due to shock, grief, or illness.
  • The character appears in historical texts describing ministers who remained silent instead of offering honest advice.
  • In traditional medicine, 喑哑 refers to voice disorders and hoarseness.

FAQ