Chinese Conversation · Level 42
90 words
Chinese word
忙音
Pronunciation
Pinyinmáng yīn
Meaning
- nounbusy signal
Example
打电话的时候听到忙音，没接通。dǎ diàn huà de shí hòu tīng dào máng yīn méi jiē tōng
When I called, I heard a busy signal and couldn't get through.
More examples
下班高峰打电话经常听到忙音，很难联系上对方。xià bān gāo fēng dǎ diàn huà jīng cháng tīng dào máng yīn hěn nán lián xì shàng duì fāng
I often hear a busy signal when I call during the after-work rush hour, so it is hard to reach the other person.
Core concept
A repeated phone tone that marks the called line as occupied before the connection is made.
Common phrases
听到忙音tīng dào máng yīn
hear a busy signal
拨号后听到忙音bō hào hòu tīng dào máng yīn
hear a busy signal after dialing
电话里有忙音diàn huà lǐ yǒu máng yīn
a busy signal on the phone
Similar words
占线zhàn xiàn: The occupied state of a phone line that prevents another call from getting through.
占线音zhàn xiàn yīn: A phone-system tone that announces that the called line is occupied.
Definition in Chinese
电话用语，指拨打时对方线路占用而听到的连续提示声。diàn huà yòng yǔ zhǐ bō dǎ shí duì fāng xiàn lù zhàn yòng ér tīng dào de lián xù tí shì shēng
Word origin
忙 (máng, "busy") + 音 (yīn, "sound") forms a compound for a sound that signals an occupied line.
Usage tips
- This word identifies the phone sound itself, unlike ringing, an unanswered call, or an automated message that follows a failed connection.
Opposites
- 接通音jiē tōng yīnconnection tonenoun