咕 gū mumble
mumble; mutter; murmur; rumble
How to remember 咕: 口 mouth + 古 old = mumble. Barely opening his mouth, the old man at the bus stop complains about the weather in one long mumble.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
咕 = 口 mouth + 古 old
- 口 mouth meaning
- 古 old sound
Barely opening his mouth, the old man at the bus stop complains about the weather in one long mumble.
How it came to be
The mouth gives the meaning and the part for old the sound.
How it is used
- Onomatopoeia for low, rumbling, muttered sounds: 肚子咕咕叫 (dùzi gūgū jiào) a growling stomach, 咕噜 (gūlū) to rumble/gurgle.
- 嘀咕 (dígu) = to mutter/whisper, or to fret privately: 心里直嘀咕 to keep muttering doubts to oneself.
- 咕咚 (gūdōng) = the sound of something heavy plopping into water.