拟声词和拟态词：让中文活起来 - Onomatopoeia and Mimetic Words: Bringing Chinese to Life [HSK 5]

Exploring how onomatopoeic and mimetic words add vivid sound and imagery to Chinese expression.

Download the app here:

• Chinese Short Dialogue | Website
• Chinese Short Dialogue | App Store
• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Available in 8 languages on the app:

Chinese Listening | 중국어 리스닝 | 中国語リスニング | Аудирование по китайскому языку | Nghe tiếng Trung | Mendengarkan bahasa Mandarin | Escucha en chino | การฟังภาษาจีน | Chinesisches Hören | Écoute du chinois | Ascolto cinese | Audição em chinês | चीनी सुनना | الاستماع إلى اللغة الصينية

《English Translation》

优子: Teacher Liu, when I watched a TV drama yesterday, I heard many strange words like 'ding-dong' and 'hua la la'. What do they mean?
刘娜: Those are onomatopoeic words! They imitate sounds from real life. 'Ding-dong' is the sound of a doorbell or metal clinking, and 'hua la la' is the sound of heavy rain or flowing water.
优子: I see! No wonder they sound so vivid. Are there other common onomatopoeic words?
刘娜: There are many! For example, 'weng weng' is the buzzing of bees, and 'gu lu gu lu' is the sound of a growling stomach or drinking water. Using these words makes speech lively, like adding sound effects!
优子: That’s so interesting! I also noticed words like 'man tun tun', which don’t sound like noises but rather describe an appearance?
刘娜: You’re very observant! 'Man tun tun' is a mimetic word — it doesn’t imitate sounds but describes a slow movement. There’s also 'xiao mi mi' for a smiling face, and 'qi chong chong' for an angry expression.
优子: Wow, Chinese is really fascinating! With these words, I can vividly describe what I see and hear.
刘娜: Exactly! Onomatopoeic and mimetic words are part of the charm of Chinese. They give the language sound and imagery — that’s one reason Chinese poetry and literature are so beautiful.