adverb HSK 4
Traditional 高聲
gāo shēng
loudly · in a loud voice · aloud

Meaning

高声 means to speak or make sound in a loud voice. It combines 高 (high) and 声 (voice/sound) to literally mean 'high voice.' This word describes the manner of speaking or making noise at a volume that can be clearly heard by others, often in contexts where emphasis or audibility is important.

Usage

高声 is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to describe speaking loudly or raising one's voice. It often appears in contexts like public speaking, announcements, or situations requiring clear audibility. It's more formal than colloquial alternatives like 大声 (dà shēng), though both are widely used. The phrase 高声朗读 (to read aloud) is particularly common in educational settings.

Examples

  1. 01
    老师要求学生高声朗读课文。
    Lǎo shī yāo qiú xué shēng gāo shēng lǎng wén.
    The teacher asked the students to read the text aloud.
  2. 02
    高声喊道:'小心!'
    gāo shēng hǎn dào: 'Xiǎo xīn!'
    He shouted loudly: 'Be careful!'

Characters

Common collocations

  • 高声朗读
    gāo shēng lǎng
    to read aloud
  • 高声说话
    gāo shēng shuō huà
    to speak loudly
  • 高声呼喊
    gāo shēng hǎn
    to shout loudly
  • 高声唱歌
    gāo shēng chàng
    to sing loudly

Antonyms

Origin

The combination of 高 (high) and 声 (voice) creates a straightforward metaphor: a 'high' or 'raised' voice naturally carries further and is louder. This construction follows common Chinese patterns of combining descriptive adjectives with nouns to create adverbial expressions.

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