noun HSK 6
Traditional 濁音
zhuó yīn
voiced sound · voiced consonant

Meaning

A linguistic term referring to speech sounds produced with vibration of the vocal cords. In phonetics, voiced consonants like /b/, /d/, /g/, /z/ are examples of 浊音, as opposed to voiceless consonants. This is a technical term used primarily in language teaching and phonetics.

Usage

Primarily used in academic, linguistic, or language-teaching contexts. Native speakers encounter this term when studying phonetics, learning foreign languages, or discussing pronunciation. It contrasts with 清音 (voiceless sounds). Not commonly used in everyday conversation outside of educational settings.

Examples

  1. 01
    英语中的b、d、g都是浊音
    Yīngyǔ zhōng de b, d, g dōu shì zhuó yīn.
    In English, b, d, and g are all voiced sounds.
  2. 02
    学习语音学时要区分清音和浊音
    Xuéxí yǔyīnxué shí yào qūfēn qīng yīn zhuó yīn.
    When studying phonetics, one must distinguish between voiceless and voiced sounds.

Characters

Measure words

  • 一个浊音

Common collocations

  • 浊音
    zhuó yīn huà
    voicing (phonological process)
  • 浊音辅音
    zhuó yīn yīn
    voiced consonant

Antonyms

Origin

The character 浊 originally meant 'muddy' or 'turbid' water, suggesting something that vibrates or moves. In phonetics, it metaphorically describes sounds where the vocal cords vibrate, creating a 'richer' or 'fuller' quality compared to voiceless sounds.

Related