咽 yàn throat
throat; pharynx; to swallow
How to remember 咽: 口 mouth + 因 because = throat. The boy opens his mouth for the doctor because a tiny fish bone is stuck deep in his throat.
Component breakdown
咽 = 口 mouth + 因 because
- 口 mouth
- 因 because
- 囗 enclosed
- 大 big
The boy opens his mouth for the doctor because a tiny fish bone is stuck deep in his throat.
How it is used
- Three readings. yān = throat/pharynx - 咽喉 (yānhóu) throat.
- yàn = to swallow - 狼吞虎咽 (lángtūn-hǔyàn) to wolf food down, 咽下 (yànxià) to swallow; 咽气 (yàn qì) to breathe one's last.
- yè = to choke with sobs - 哽咽 (gěngyè), 呜咽 (wūyè). One character, three jobs: throat / swallow / sob-choke.