Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 耳語 / 耳语 | ěryǔ |
| 呢喃 | nínán |
| 嘀咕 | dígu |
| 打喳喳 | dǎ chācha |
| 打耳唧 | dǎ ěrjī |
| 哼唧 | hēngji |
| 嘰咕 / 叽咕 | jīgu |
| 唧唧咕咕 | jīji gūgū |
| 唧噥 / 唧哝 | jīnong |
| 竊竊私語 / 窃窃私语 | qièqièsīyǔ |
| 低語 / 低语 | qīngshēng dīyǔ |
The general concept of whispering can be expressed through various verbs and nouns. While 耳語 / 耳语 (ěryǔ) is a neutral way to say whisper, 低語 / 低语 (dīyǔ) literally means 'low speech' and describes speaking in a low, quiet tone. For a noun meaning the act of whispering, you can use 耳語 / 耳语, 低語 / 低语 or 私語 / 私语. If you want to describe the act of speaking quietly in a general sense, the informal phrase 悄声说话 is often used.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word changes the nuance significantly. 耳語 / 耳语 is neutral, whereas 竊竊私語 / 窃窃私语 (qièqièsīyǔ) implies secrecy or people whispering about someone behind their back. If the whispering involves complaining or speaking to oneself, use 嘀咕 (dígu), which describes muttering or whispering under one's breath. For an annoying, constant sound of complaining, the reduplicated form 唧唧咕咕 (jīji gūgū) is used. If you are describing gentle, soft sounds in a poetic context, such as birds or nature, use the literary term 呢喃 (nínán).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Different levels of formality apply to these terms. 呢喃 (nínán) is a literary term used for poetic effect. 私語 (sīyǔ) is a formal noun for a whisper. In contrast, 嘀咕 (dígu) is an informal way to describe muttering or whispering with a sense of dissatisfaction and 悄声说话 is an informal phrase used to mean speak quietly.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
ěryǔ
Did you know?
- The phrase 竊竊私語 / 窃窃私语 (qièqièsīyǔ) uses the character 竊 (qiè), which also means 'to steal'. This suggests that the act of whispering is akin to stealing a conversation from others.
- The term 呢喃 (nínán) is often used to describe the 'whispering' of pigeons, reflecting a specific poetic association between the bird and soft sounds in Chinese literature.
- The term 嘀咕 (dígu) can be used as a noun to describe the 'mutterings' or 'doubts' someone has in their mind, even if they are not speaking aloud.
Examples in context
- 他们在角落里低声私语。They whispered quietly in the corner.
- 他嘀咕着怪话，没人听懂。He muttered something strange, but no one understood.
- 请在图书馆内悄声说话。Please speak quietly within the library.
- 他们在会议室里私语，讨论着重要的事情。They whispered and discussed important matters in the meeting room.
- 她们悄声说话，不想被其他人听到。They spoke quietly, not wanting to be heard by others.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “whisper” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
