Character
to swallow
Readings and meanings
- to swallow CC-CEDICT
yān
yan1Reading 2Rare readingThis reading is uncommon in everyday Chinese; the main reading is yàn.
- throat (as in 咽喉); the passage in your neck for food and air
- a narrow mountain pass (as in 咽喉要地)
Examples
我的咽喉疼,今天不能唱歌。
wǒ de yān hóu téng, jīn tiān bù néng chàng gē
My throat hurts, so I can't sing today.
AI-generated sentence
医生看了看我的咽喉。
yī shēng kàn le kàn wǒ de yān hóu
The doctor looked at my throat.
AI-generated sentence
这是通往山里的咽喉要地。
zhè shì tōng wǎng shān lǐ de yān hóu yào dì
This is a key mountain pass leading into the mountains.
AI-generated sentence
yè
ye4Reading 3Rare readingThis reading is uncommon in everyday Chinese; the main reading is yàn.
- to sob; to cry with short, choking sounds (as in 呜咽)
Examples
孩子呜咽着,非常难过。
hái zi wū yè zhe fēi cháng nán guò
The child was sobbing and felt very sad.
AI-generated sentence
听到这个消息,他呜咽起来。
tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi tā wū yè qǐ lái
After hearing the news, he began to sob.
AI-generated sentence
Words that use “咽” as yè
Stroke order
All 9 strokes
Practice writing 咽
Draw “咽” here — the faint guide shows its shape.