咕 gū mumble
mumble; mutter; murmur; rumble
How to remember 咕: 口 mouth + 古 old = mumble. Barely opening his mouth, the old man at the bus stop complains about the weather in one long mumble.
Component breakdown
咕 = 口 mouth + 古 old
- 口 mouth
- 古 old
Barely opening his mouth, the old man at the bus stop complains about the weather in one long mumble.
How it is used
- Onomatopoeia for low, rumbling, muttered sounds - 肚子咕咕叫 (dùzi gūgū jiào) a growling stomach, 咕噜 (gūlū) to rumble/gurgle.
- 嘀咕 (dígu) = to mutter/whisper, or to fret privately - 心里直嘀咕 to keep muttering doubts to oneself.
- 咕咚 (gūdōng) = the sound of something heavy plopping into water.