喇叭

• Pinyin: lǎ ba
• Hanzi breakdown: 喇 = 口 (mouth) + 剌 (prick) — part of onomatopoeia; 叭 = 口 (mouth) + 八 (eight) — horn sound

Meaning

Horn; trumpet; loudspeaker. Any device that amplifies or projects sound.

Can refer to musical instruments like trumpets, car horns, loudspeakers, or even metaphorically to someone who talks loudly or spreads information. Very versatile in everyday usage.

Examples

1. 司机按了几下喇叭，前面的车才让开。 The driver honked several times before the car ahead moved aside.
2. 广场上的大喇叭正在播放音乐。 The loudspeakers in the square are playing music.
3. 他吹喇叭的技术在乐队里数一数二。 His trumpet-playing skills are among the best in the band.

Usage Guide

Context: driving, music, announcements

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 别乱按喇叭，扰民。(Don't honk randomly, it disturbs people.)
• 这个喇叭音质不错。(This speaker has good sound quality.)

Don't Say

• 把专业音响设备都叫喇叭。(喇叭 is informal — for professional audio equipment, use 扬声器 or 音箱)

Origin & History

Onomatopoeic origin. 喇叭 mimics the sound produced by horns and trumpets.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal