Meaning and Usage
The character 腔 (qiāng) primarily refers to a cavity or hollow space inside the body, such as the chest cavity (胸腔). It is often used in medical or anatomical contexts to describe internal body spaces.
Besides the literal meaning, 腔 is frequently used metaphorically to describe a person's tone, accent, or manner of speaking (腔调). When used this way, it highlights regional accents or emotional tones in speech.
Common Collocations
- 胸腔 (xiōngqiāng): chest cavity, used in medical contexts.
- 腔调 (qiāngdiào): tone or accent, often referring to speech style or regional dialect.
- 地方腔 (dìfāng qiāng): local accent, emphasizing regional speech characteristics.
Usage Notes
When talking about speech, 腔 usually appears in compounds like 腔调 and refers to the distinctive sound or intonation of someone's voice. It can carry neutral or slightly informal connotations depending on context.
In anatomy, 腔 is a formal term for body cavities and is often paired with specific organs or body parts.
Avoid confusing 腔 with similar-sounding words that mean 'gun barrel' (枪, qiāng) or 'tone' (调, diào) alone; 腔 specifically relates to cavities or vocal tone aspects.