Chinese character 嘹

嘹 describes a clear, ringing voice or cry that carries. In Mandarin it usually appears in compounds: 嘹亮 describes singing, speech, or an instrument that carries clearly; 嘹唳 names a ringing cry from birds or cicadas. Bare 嘹 is less conversational than these compounds.

The earliest dictionary record for 嘹 is in 玉篇, a dictionary from the Southern Liang period; it glosses 嘹 with 嘹喨, a compound for a clear, ringing sound. Tang literary examples use 嘹唳 for bird and cicada calls.

The written form combines 口, the mouth element, with 尞 as a sound component. 僚, 燎, 遼, 寮, and 瞭 share that 尞 sound series; the connection is about sound and written form, not meaning.

What does 嘹咋咧 mean?

In Guanzhong speech, it praises something as excellent. A 2025 report records 嘹咋咧 as colloquial praise in Shaanxi’s Guanzhong region, for good work, food, conditions, or results. It gives 嘹 an evaluative sense distinct from Mandarin descriptions of sound.

In Taiwanese Hokkien, 嘹 can name a weak beat in a rhythm. A 2024 Taiwan Ministry of Education word list places it in the rhythmic pattern called 板眼. This language-specific musical use is not a Mandarin gloss to apply automatically.

What does 嘹 mean when someone sends it alone?

By itself, 嘹 does not settle which reading is intended. In Mandarin it may point toward a sound word; in Guanzhong speech it may be shorthand praise; in Taiwanese Hokkien writing it may refer to musical rhythm. Use the surrounding phrase and language to read it; if neither makes the meaning clear, ask the sender.