onomatopoeia; sound of hard steps or impact; sudden startle
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesonomatopoeia
clack; thud; sound of hard-soled shoes on the floor or objects colliding
neutralDescribes a sharp, distinct sound, often repetitive ('gē dēng gē dēng'). Also written as 格登 (gé dēng).
Shēn深
yè夜
，
zǒu走
láng廊
lǐ里
chuán传
lái来
gē咯
dēng噔
gē咯
dēng噔
de的
jiǎo脚
bù步
shēng声
。
Late at night, the clack-clack of footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Bēi杯
zi子
diào掉
zài在
dì地
shang上
，
fā发
chū出
gē咯
dēng噔
yī一
shēng声
。
The cup fell to the floor with a thud.
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Tā他
chuān穿
zhe着
pí皮
xuē靴
，
gē咯
dēng噔
gē咯
dēng噔
de地
zǒu走
yuǎn远
le了
。
He walked away, his leather boots clacking.
onomatopoeia
with a sudden start; feeling one's heart drop; startled
informalUsed figuratively to describe a sudden shock or sinking feeling in one's heart, often followed by '一下 (yī xià)' or '一下子 (yī xià zi)'.
Tīng听
shuō说
chǎng厂
lǐ里
chū出
le了
shì事
er儿
，
wǒ我
xīn心
lǐ里
gē咯
dēng噔
yī一
xià下
，
tuǐ腿
dōu都
ruǎn软
le了
。
When I heard something had happened at the factory, my heart sank and my legs went weak.
Kàn看
dào到
kǎo考
shì试
chéng成
jì绩
，
tā他
xīn心
lǐ里
gē咯
dēng噔
yī一
xià下
zi子
，
zhī知
dào道
zì自
jǐ己
méi没
kǎo考
hǎo好
。
Seeing his exam score, his heart dropped, knowing he hadn't done well.