Chinese word

小声

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiǎo shēng

Meaning

  • adverbin a low voice

Example

他小声对我说了个秘密。tā xiǎo shēng duì wǒ shuō le gè mì mì

He told me a secret in a low voice.

Illustration for 小声 (in a low voice)

More examples

妈妈在门外小声说，别吵。mā mā zài mén wài xiǎo shēng shuō bié chǎo

Mom said in a low voice from outside the door, "Don't make noise."

Core concept

Speech kept soft and close, so the words do not carry far.

Common phrases

  • 小声说xiǎo shēng shuō

    speak in a low voice

  • 小声笑xiǎo shēng xiào

    laugh quietly

Similar words

轻声qīng shēng: Speaking in a soft and restrained voice.
低声dī shēng: Speaking in a voice deliberately lowered from its usual pitch.

Definition in Chinese

声音很低、压低音量说话的一种方式，常作为副词使用。shēng yīn hěn dī yā dī yīn liàng shuō huà de yì zhǒng fāng shì cháng zuò wéi fù cí shǐ yòng

Word origin

The compound 小 (xiǎo, "small") + 声 (shēng, "sound") joins the ideas of smallness and sound to describe speech kept at a low volume.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may connect quiet speech with secrecy, but this word also describes speaking softly simply to avoid disturbing people nearby.

Other meanings

  • in a whisperadverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 小声儿xiǎo shēngrwhispernoun

Word lists with this word