noun HSK 4
zào yīn
noise · unwanted sound · din

Meaning

噪音 refers to unwanted, disruptive, or unpleasant sounds that interfere with activities or cause discomfort. It encompasses everything from traffic noise and construction sounds to loud music or machinery. The term emphasizes the negative quality of the sound.

Usage

Used in both everyday conversation and formal contexts like environmental regulations or public complaints. Commonly appears in discussions about urban living conditions, health effects, or neighborhood disturbances. The term carries a clearly negative connotation, distinguishing it from neutral words for sound.

Examples

  1. 01
    楼上的装修噪音让我无法专心工作。
    Lóu shàng de zhuāng xiū zào yīn ràng zhuān xīn gōng zuò.
    The renovation noise from upstairs makes it impossible for me to concentrate on work.
  2. 02
    这个城市的噪音污染越来越严重了。
    Zhège chéng shì de zào yīn rǎn yuè lái yuè yán zhòng le.
    The noise pollution in this city is getting more and more serious.

Characters

Measure words

  • zhǒng一种噪音

Common collocations

  • 噪音污染
    zào yīn rǎn
    noise pollution
  • 制造噪音
    zhì zào zào yīn
    to make noise
  • 减少噪音
    jiǎn shǎo zào yīn
    to reduce noise
  • 噪音太大
    zào yīn tài
    the noise is too loud

Antonyms

Origin

The word combines 噪 (noisy/clamorous) with 音 (sound), literally meaning 'noisy sound.' The character 噪 itself contains the mouth radical 口, suggesting vocal or audible disturbance.

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