鸣 míng a bird call or animal cry
a bird call or animal cry; to voice
How to remember 鸣: 口 mouth + 鸟 bird = a bird call or animal cry. Outside the tent a bird opens its tiny mouth at dawn, and the sleepy kids argue whether it is a bird call or animal cry.
Component breakdown
鸣 = 口 mouth + 鸟 bird
- 口 mouth
- 鸟 bird
Outside the tent a bird opens its tiny mouth at dawn, and the sleepy kids argue whether it is a bird call or animal cry.
How it is used
- The cry of a bird/insect or a sounding - 鸟鸣 (niǎomíng) birdsong, 蝉鸣 (chánmíng) cicadas droning, 鸣笛 (míngdí) to sound a horn/whistle.
- High-value figurative use: 共鸣 (gòngmíng) resonance - 引起共鸣 (yǐnqǐ gòngmíng) to strike a chord, resonate emotionally with people. Also 鸣不平 (míng bùpíng) to cry out against injustice.
- Literary flavor; think 'to voice/sound out'.