Usage of 咳 (ké)
The character 咳 primarily means "to cough" or refers to the sound of coughing. It is commonly used in medical or everyday contexts when describing symptoms or actions related to coughing.
Common Collocations
- 咳嗽 (késòu): cough (noun/verb), the most frequent compound.
- 咳一声 (ké yī shēng): to cough once, often used to get attention or signal something.
- 咳得厉害 (ké de lìhài): to cough severely, describing intensity.
Pragmatic Notes
咳 can be used literally to describe the physical act of coughing or the sound itself. In conversation, 咳一声 is often used as a subtle way to interrupt or draw attention without being rude. When describing illness, 咳嗽 is the more common term, but 咳 alone is understood.
Common Confusion
Don't confuse 咳 with 喝 (hē, to drink) or 嗽 (sòu, which appears only in the compound 咳嗽). 咳 alone is less formal than 咳嗽 but still widely understood.
Summary
Use 咳 when talking about coughing actions or sounds, especially in informal or narrative contexts. For medical or formal descriptions, 咳嗽 is preferred. Remember that 咳一声 can function as a discourse marker to politely attract attention.