Usage and Nuances of 吼 (hǒu)
The verb 吼 primarily means "to roar" or "to shout loudly," often conveying a strong emotional expression such as anger or fear. It is commonly used to describe the loud, deep sounds made by animals like lions or tigers, but it also applies to humans shouting or yelling in anger or frustration.
Common Contexts
- Animal sounds: 吼 is frequently used to depict the roaring of wild animals.
- Human shouting: It can describe a person yelling loudly, often in anger or to command attention.
- Children or people making loud demands: Sometimes used to describe loud, insistent cries or demands.
Collocations and Patterns
- 大声吼叫 (dàshēng hǒujiào): to roar or shout loudly, emphasizing volume.
- 生气地吼 (shēngqì de hǒu): to shout angrily, highlighting emotional intensity.
- 吼着要 (hǒu zhe yào): to yell demanding something, often used with children.
Register and Tone
吼 is informal and vivid, often used in spoken language or descriptive writing. It can carry a negative tone when describing human shouting, implying harshness or loss of control.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse 吼 with 喊 (hǎn), which also means "to shout" but is more neutral and can be used for calling or yelling without necessarily implying anger or loudness as intense as 吼.