Chinese word

呃

Pronunciation

Pinyinè

Meaning

  • interjectionum

Example

呃，你能再说一遍吗？è nǐ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma

Um, could you say that again?

Illustration for 呃 (um)

More examples

呃，那个，我昨天看过那部电影。è nà ge wǒ zuó tiān kàn guò nà bù diàn yǐng

Um, well, I watched that movie yesterday.

Core concept

A small spoken signal that marks a pause while the speaker searches for words.

Common phrases

  • 呃，那个è nà ge

    Um, well

  • 呃，我想è wǒ xiǎng

    Um, I think

Similar words

嗯ǹ: A brief sound used to give a simple reply or show agreement.
啊a: A brief cry used to call out or express surprise and other strong feelings.
哦ó: A brief response showing that something has been understood or newly noticed.

Definition in Chinese

表示说话时短暂停顿或犹豫的语气词，用作口语中的填充音以争取时间或组织语言，不承载实质信息。biǎo shì shuō huà shí duǎn zàn tíng dùn huò yóu yù de yǔ qì cí yòng zuò kóu yǔ zhōng de tián chōng yīn yǐ zhēng qǔ shí jiān huò zǔ zhī yǔ yán bù chéng zài shí zhì xìn xī

Word origin

呃 (è, "um") combines 口 (kǒu, "mouth"), which signals speech, with 厄 (è, "difficulty"), which supplies the sound.

Usage tips

  • Repeated fillers can make a speaker sound less prepared in a formal presentation, whereas a short silent pause usually sounds more controlled.

Other meanings

  • hmminterjection

Word lists with this word