Chinese–EnglishWith examples

咽

yān · yan/yè · ye/yàn · yan

Traditional 嚥

HSK 7–9

Meaning

CC-CEDICT

yān 咽

  1. throat; pharynx
  2. narrow pass

yè 咽

  1. to choke (in crying)

yàn 嚥

  1. to swallow

yàn 咽

  1. variant of 嚥 / 咽 (yàn)
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:17 cartoon

Too big to swallow

  1. Liangliang

    这个(zhège)丸子(wánzi)太大(tàidà)了(le)，我(wǒ)咽(yàn)不(bù)下去(xiàqù)。

    This meatball is too big. I can't swallow it.

  2. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)先(xiān)嚼一嚼(jiáoyījiáo)。

    Chew it first.

  3. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)嚼了(jiáole)，还是(háishi)咽(yàn)不(bù)下去(xiàqù)。

    I chewed it. Still can't swallow it.

  4. Dengdeng

    那(nà)你(nǐ)喝口水(hēkǒushuǐ)，再(zài)咽(yàn)。

    Then drink some water and swallow.

  5. Liangliang

    咽(yàn)下去(xiàqù)了(le)！再(zài)来(lái)一个(yīgè)！

    Swallowed it! Another one!

  6. Dengdeng

    不是(bùshì)说(shuō)太大(tàidà)了(le)吗(ma)？

    Didn't you say it was too big?

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)感(gǎn)冒(mào)了(le)，喉(hóu)咙(lóng)和(hé)咽(yān)都(dōu)很(hěn)疼(téng)。

He has a cold, and both his throat and pharynx hurt.

02

她(tā)听(tīng)到(dào)这(zhè)个(ge)消(xiāo)息(xi)，忍(rěn)不(bu)住(zhù)哽(gěng)咽(yè)起(qǐ)来(lái)。

Hearing the news, she couldn't help but choke up.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

Browse all wordsExplore words in context