(nāng) - To speak in a low, indistinct voice & to mumble

Tone 1

nāng | 25 strokes | radical:

· nāng

To speak in a low, indistinct voice;

to mumble;

to mutter;

to speak with the mouth full.

To speak in a low, indistinct voiceto mumbleto mutter

Usage highlights

mumblemutterspeak indistinctlygrumbling voicemuffled speech

Synonyms

  • 嘟囔to mutter, to mumble
  • 咕哝to murmur, to grumble

Antonyms

  • clear, bright (antonym in clarity of speech)
  • clear, distinct (antonym in articulation)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was mumbling (囔囔) under his breath.
  • Don't talk with your mouth full (嘴里囔着食物说话).
  • She was muttering complaints (囔囔地抱怨).

Collocations

  • mumble(囔囔)
  • mutter(嘟囔)
  • speak indistinctly(囔咕)
  • grumbling voice(囔音)
  • muffled speech(囔声囔气)

Idioms

  • Muttering and grumbling(嘟嘟囔囔)
  • Mumbling incessantly(囔囔不休)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used to depict speech that is unclear due to emotional state (e.g., complaint, shyness) or physical obstruction (e.g., full mouth).
  • Commonly appears in descriptive passages of novels to characterize someone as discontented or difficult to understand.

FAQ