shēngyīn: 声音 - Sound, Voice

• Keywords: shengyin, 声音, Chinese for sound, Chinese for voice, what does shengyin mean, how to say voice in Chinese, how to say sound in Chinese, 声 vs 音, Chinese characters for sound, Mandarin sound, HSK 2 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 声音 (shēngyīn), the fundamental term for both “sound” and “voice”. This guide breaks down what shengyin means, from describing the literal sound of music to the quality of a person's voice, and even its figurative use for expressing an “opinion”. Discover how the characters 声 and 音 combine, see practical examples of how to use 声音 in daily conversation, and understand the key differences between similar Chinese terms.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shēngyīn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A sound, a noise, or the voice of a person or animal.
• In a Nutshell: 声音 (shēngyīn) is your all-purpose word for anything you can hear. It's the general, neutral term that covers the entire spectrum of auditory experience, from the gentle rustle of leaves and the blare of a car horn to the unique, recognizable sound of a friend's voice.

• 声 (shēng): This character often refers to a specific, raw sound or the act of making a sound. Think of it as the vibration itself. An ancient form depicts a hand striking a sounding stone. It's used as a suffix in words describing specific sounds, like `笑声 (xiàoshēng)` - “sound of laughter”.
• 音 (yīn): This character often relates to a more refined, articulated, or musical sound. Think of it as a tone or a note. It forms the basis of words like `音乐 (yīnyuè)` - “music” and `发音 (fāyīn)` - “pronunciation”.

Together, 声 (shēng) and 音 (yīn) create the compound word 声音 (shēngyīn), a broad and stable term that encompasses all types of sound, much like the English word “sound”.

While 声音 (shēngyīn) is a straightforward term, its application reveals cultural nuances. In a culture that values connection, “hearing someone's voice” (`听到你的声音`) is a common and meaningful phrase used in phone calls or messages. It carries a sense of reassurance, comfort, and personal connection that goes beyond just the auditory act. Figuratively, 声音 can mean “voice” in the sense of an opinion or perspective, similar to English. A phrase like `我们需要听到不同的声音 (Wǒmen xūyào tīngdào bùtóng de shēngyīn)` means “We need to hear different voices/opinions.” This reflects a modern understanding of discourse and diversity of thought. However, it's a softer, more metaphorical expression than using a direct word like `意见 (yìjiàn)` - “opinion”. It compares to the Western concept of “finding your voice” as an artist (`找到自己的声音`), which translates perfectly and emphasizes individuality.

声音 (shēngyīn) is an incredibly common word used in many contexts.

• Describing any sound or noise: This is its most frequent, literal use. It can be loud, quiet, pleasant, or unpleasant.
  • e.g., 外面的声音太大了。(Wàimiàn de shēngyīn tài dà le.) - The sound outside is too loud.
• Referring to a person's voice: You use it to describe the quality or characteristics of someone's speaking or singing voice.
  • e.g., 她的声音很好听。(Tā de shēngyīn hěn hǎotīng.) - Her voice is very pleasant to listen to.
• Expressing an opinion (figurative): In more formal or written contexts, it refers to a viewpoint or perspective.
  • e.g., 在会议上，他发出了自己的声音。(Zài huìyì shàng, tā fāchūle zìjǐ de shēngyīn.) - At the meeting, he voiced his own opinion.

The connotation of 声音 is neutral. Its quality is determined by the adjectives used with it, such as 大 (dà) - loud, 小 (xiǎo) - quiet, 好听 (hǎotīng) - pleasant-sounding, or 难听 (nántīng) - unpleasant-sounding.

• Example 1:
  • 外面的声音太吵了，我关上窗户吧。
  • Pinyin: Wàimiàn de shēngyīn tài chǎo le, wǒ guānshàng chuānghu ba.
  • English: The sound outside is too noisy, I'll close the window.
  • Analysis: A very common, practical use of 声音 to refer to ambient noise. `吵 (chǎo)` is an adjective specifically meaning “noisy”.
• Example 2:
  • 你能听到我说话的声音吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng tīngdào wǒ shuōhuà de shēngyīn ma?
  • English: Can you hear my voice (the sound of me talking)?
  • Analysis: Used frequently in phone calls or online meetings to check for a clear connection.
• Example 3:
  • 我喜欢听她唱歌，她的声音很甜美。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xǐhuān tīng tā chànggē, tā de shēngyīn hěn tiánměi.
  • English: I like to listen to her sing, her voice is very sweet and beautiful.
  • Analysis: Here, 声音 specifically refers to a person's singing voice, described with the adjective `甜美 (tiánměi)`.
• Example 4:
  • 请把你的声音放低一点，孩子在睡觉。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ nǐ de shēngyīn fàng dī yīdiǎn, háizi zài shuìjiào.
  • English: Please lower your voice a little, the child is sleeping.
  • Analysis: A polite request to be quieter. `放低 (fàng dī)` literally means “to put low”.
• Example 5:
  • 寂静的夜晚，我只能听到风的声音。
  • Pinyin: Jìjìng de yèwǎn, wǒ zhǐ néng tīngdào fēng de shēngyīn.
  • English: In the quiet night, I could only hear the sound of the wind.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates how 声音 can be used for natural, non-human sounds.
• Example 6:
  • 他感冒了，声音有点儿沙哑。
  • Pinyin: Tā gǎnmào le, shēngyīn yǒudiǎnr shāyǎ.
  • English: He has a cold, so his voice is a little hoarse.
  • Analysis: Shows how to describe a negative quality of a voice. `沙哑 (shāyǎ)` means “hoarse” or “raspy”.
• Example 7:
  • 听到你的声音真好，我好久没见你了。
  • Pinyin: Tīngdào nǐ de shēngyīn zhēn hǎo, wǒ hǎojiǔ méi jiàn nǐ le.
  • English: It's so good to hear your voice, I haven't seen you in a long time.
  • Analysis: This highlights the cultural significance of hearing a voice as a form of personal connection.
• Example 8:
  • 这个决定需要我们倾听来自基层的声音。
  • Pinyin: Zhège juédìng xūyào wǒmen qīngtīng láizì jīcéng de shēngyīn.
  • English: This decision requires us to listen to the voices from the grassroots level.
  • Analysis: A formal, figurative usage of 声音 to mean “opinions” or “feedback” from a group of people.
• Example 9:
  • 突然，我听到了一个奇怪的声音从厨房传来。
  • Pinyin: Tūrán, wǒ tīngdào le yí ge qíguài de shēngyīn cóng chúfáng chuánlái.
  • English: Suddenly, I heard a strange sound coming from the kitchen.
  • Analysis: A classic narrative sentence, perfect for storytelling. 声音 is paired with the measure word `个 (ge)`.
• Example 10:
  • 电视的声音太大了，你可以调小一点吗？
  • Pinyin: Diànshì de shēngyīn tài dà le, nǐ kěyǐ tiáo xiǎo yīdiǎn ma?
  • English: The TV's sound is too loud, can you turn it down a bit?
  • Analysis: Demonstrates using 声音 for electronic devices. `调 (tiáo)` means “to adjust”.

• `声音 (shēngyīn)` vs. `声 (shēng)` vs. `音 (yīn)`: This is the most important distinction for learners.
  • Use `声音` for the general concept of “sound” or “voice”. It's the safest and most common choice. e.g., 我听到了一个声音。(I heard a sound.)
  • `声 (shēng)` is often a suffix for specific types of sounds: `笑声 (xiàoshēng)` - laughter, `雨声 (yǔshēng)` - sound of rain, `歌声 (gēshēng)` - sound of singing. Using it alone is less common in modern Mandarin for “a sound”.
  • `音 (yīn)` relates to tone, music, and pronunciation: `音乐 (yīnyuè)` - music, `发音 (fāyīn)` - pronunciation, `音节 (yīnjié)` - syllable. Don't use it alone to mean “a sound”.
  • Incorrect: *我听到一个声。 or *我听到一个音。
  • Correct: 我听到了一个声音。
• False Friend: “Grammatical Voice”
  • In English, “voice” can refer to the grammatical concept of active vs. passive voice. This is NOT 声音. The correct Chinese term for this is `语态 (yǔtài)`. This is a common point of confusion for learners who are also studying grammar.

• 响声 (xiǎngshēng) - A loud sound, a bang, a noise. More specific than `声音` and implies loudness.
• 噪音 (zàoyīn) - Noise pollution, static, an unpleasant or disruptive sound. Has a negative connotation.
• 音乐 (yīnyuè) - Music. A specific, organized, and artistic form of `声音`.
• 发音 (fāyīn) - Pronunciation. The way a person produces the sounds (`音`) of a language.
• 嗓子 (sǎngzi) - Throat, or by extension, one's voice, especially when its physical quality is being discussed (e.g., hoarseness).
• 安静 (ānjìng) - Quiet, peaceful. The state of being without disruptive `声音`.
• 吵 (chǎo) - Noisy; to quarrel. An adjective describing a place full of unpleasant `声音`.
• 意见 (yìjiàn) - Opinion, suggestion. The direct word for the figurative meaning of “voice”.
• 音量 (yīnliàng) - Volume (of sound). The attribute of `声音` that you adjust on a device.
• 听见 (tīngjiàn) - To hear. The verb that describes the successful perception of a `声音`.