Chinese word

刺耳

Pronunciation

Pinyincì ěr

Meaning

  • adjectivegrating

Example

这个声音很刺耳。zhè ge shēng yīn hěn cì ěr

This sound is very grating.

Illustration for 刺耳 (grating)

More examples

隔壁工地传来刺耳的噪音，让我无法集中工作。gé bì gōng dì chuán lái cì ěr de zào yīn ràng wǒ wú fǎ jí zhōng gōng zuò

The grating noise from the construction site next door made it impossible for me to concentrate on my work.

Core concept

A sound or utterance with a pointed edge that presses into the ear and causes discomfort.

Common phrases

  • 刺耳的声音cì ěr de shēng yīn

    grating sound

  • 刺耳的噪音cì ěr de zào yīn

    grating noise

Similar words

尖锐jiān ruì: Pointed and forceful, describing remarks or opinions that strike another person's feelings deeply.
刻薄kè bó: Cold and hurtful in words or manner, showing little care for another person's feelings.
严厉yán lì: Firm and severe in manner or criticism, placing strong pressure on another person.

Definition in Chinese

用于形容声音或言辞尖刻、令人不舒服，常指高频噪声或刺人的话语。yòng yú xíng róng shēng yīn huò yán cí jiān kè lìng rén bù shū fú cháng zhǐ gāo pín zào shēng huò cì rén de huà yǔ

Word origin

刺耳 (cìěr, "ear-piercing") is formed from 刺 (cì, "pierce") + 耳 (ěr, "ear"), extending the physical idea of piercing the ear to harsh sounds and remarks.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may expect this adjective to describe only sounds, but Chinese also applies it to remarks whose tone feels painfully sharp rather than merely disagreeable in content.

Other meanings

  • ear-piercingverb
  • shrilladjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word