哼
Meaning
To hum; to grunt; to snort. To hum a tune softly. To utter a dismissive grunt or snort expressing contempt, dissatisfaction, pain, or reluctant acknowledgment.
哼 has two main functions: (1) to hum a melody (哼歌 — to hum a song); (2) to make a dismissive nasal grunt (哼了一声 — let out a snort). As a standalone interjection, 哼！ typically signals scepticism, contempt, or disdain. The onomatopoeic vividness of 哼 makes it a favourite in literary dialogue to convey a character's emotional state succinctly.
Examples
- 他心情大好地哼着一首不知名的小曲，一边收拾整理办公桌，一边等待愉快的下班时刻。 In great spirits, he hummed an unfamiliar little tune as he tidied his desk and waited happily for quitting time.
- 听到上司提出那个明显不合理的要求，她轻轻地哼了一声，用这个细微的动作表达了内心的不满。 Hearing her boss make that obviously unreasonable demand, she gave a quiet snort, using the small gesture to show her displeasure.
- 哼，你以为凭这几句话就能让我回心转意？我见过太多类似的说辞，这一套对我早已没有任何效果。 Hmph—do you think a few words like that can make me change my mind? I’ve heard too many lines like this; it doesn’t work on me anymore.
Usage Guide
Context: emotions, music, dialogue, casual speech, literary description
Tone: varied
Do Say
- 她一边做饭，一边轻声哼着婆婆年轻时常唱的那首老歌，厨房里因此弥漫出一股温馨而宁静的家庭气息。(She hummed softly the old song her mother-in-law used to sing in her youth while cooking, filling the kitchen with a warm and peaceful family atmosphere.)
- 哼，他说得再天花乱坠，我也不会相信，这种人说的话向来靠不住，还是多留个心眼为好。(Hmph — no matter how brilliantly he talks it up, I won't believe him. This kind of person is never reliable; it's always better to stay on one's guard.)
Don't Say
- 哼 confused with 嗯 — 哼 typically conveys mild contempt or the act of humming, while 嗯 is a neutral acknowledgment or agreement; the two carry very different emotional tones
Origin & History
Onomatopoeic — 口 (mouth) + 亨 (phonetic — smooth/prosperous) — mouth producing a smooth, low nasal sound
Cultural Context
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Related Phrases
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