吟 yín to sing
to sing; to hum; to recite
How to remember 吟: 口 mouth + 今 now = to sing. Dad opens his mouth under the shower, and now the whole family knows it is his favourite time to sing.
Component breakdown
吟 = 口 mouth + 今 now
- 口 mouth
- 今 now
- 𠆢 tent
- 丶 a drop
- 乛 cap
Dad opens his mouth under the shower, and now the whole family knows it is his favourite time to sing.
How it is used
- To chant/recite poetry with cadence - 吟诗 (yín shī) to recite a poem, 吟诵 (yínsòng) to chant rhythmically.
- Also to moan/groan low - 呻吟 (shēnyín) to moan (in pain).
- The link is a drawn-out vocal sound; literary/poetic register for the recital sense.