口音
kǒuyīn
In Chinese, the word for accent is 口音 (kǒuyīn). Wiktionary also lists 方音 (fāngyīn).
Meaning: distinctive pronunciation associated with a region, social group, etc. (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 口音 | kǒuyīn |
| 方音 | fāngyīn |
The term 口音 is used to refer to a general accent. When you want to say someone speaks with an accent, you can use the phrase 带口音, where the verb 带 (to carry or bring) is paired with the noun.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 口音 is composed of 口 (mouth) and 音 (sound or tone).
Which one should you use?
While 口音 refers to a general accent, the form 方音 specifically emphasizes the sound characteristics of a particular regional dialect.
How do you pronounce it?
kǒuyīn
Did you know?
- Because Chinese is a tonal language, a regional 口音 can actually change the meaning of a word entirely, not just the sound of it.
- In China, people may describe an accent as 浓 (thick) or 淡 (light), mirroring how they describe the strength of a flavor or a soup.
- Standard Mandarin is called 普通话, which literally means 'common speech', designed specifically to minimize the influence of regional 口音.
Examples in context
- 我有什么口音？What accent have I got?This sentence is useful for asking about the accent one possesses using 口音.Tatoeba #5595213 by verdastelo9604, translation #2691833 by LanguageExpert
- 你说话带口音吗？Do you speak with an accent?This sentence is useful for asking if someone speaks with an accent using 口音.Tatoeba #9991939 by GlossaMatik, translation #10251004 by bekindtoall
- 他有一口滑稽的口音。He had a funny accent.This sentence is useful for describing someone as having a funny accent using 口音.Tatoeba #13881475 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #8417617 by Amastan
- 她的口音有一点不同，我觉得很好听。Her accent is a bit different, and I find it very pleasant to listen to.
- 你的口音听起来好可爱！Your accent sounds so cute!
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a new coworker's way of speaking.
- 雨婷 Yuting他的口音听起来很亲切。Tā de kǒuyīn tīng qǐlái hěn qīnqiè.His accent sounds very friendly.
- 浩然 Haoran那是南方的口音吗？Nà shì nánfāng de kǒuyīn ma?Is that a southern accent?
- 雨婷 Yuting对，浩然，他的口音很明显。Duì, Hàorán, tā de kǒuyīn hěn míngxiǎn.Yes, Haoran, his accent is very noticeable.
- 浩然 Haoran我能听懂他的意思。Wǒ néng tīng dǒng tā de yìsi.I can understand what he means.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “accent” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
