Meaning and Usage
The character 哑 (yǎ) primarily describes a state of being mute or unable to speak, often due to physical reasons like hoarseness or muteness. It can refer to someone who cannot produce sound or has lost their voice temporarily.
Common Contexts
哑 is frequently used in medical or everyday contexts to describe voice loss (e.g., due to a cold) or permanent muteness. It also appears metaphorically to describe being speechless or dumbfounded.
Collocations and Patterns
- 哑口无言: speechless, unable to respond, often used to express surprise or shock.
- 哑巴: a mute person, often used in colloquial speech.
- 嗓子哑了: voice is hoarse or lost, common when sick.
Usage Notes
哑 is more formal or literary compared to colloquial terms like '哑巴' for mute. When describing temporary voice loss, 哑 is often combined with body parts like 嗓子 (throat). Avoid confusing 哑 with silent or quiet (静), as 哑 specifically relates to inability to speak or voice hoarseness.