yǎrán

哑然

Word · AdjectiveTraditional啞然

silent; speechless with shock; burst into laughter

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 6 examples
1.

adjective

silent; quiet; noiseless

literary

Used in literary contexts to describe a complete absence of sound. Common collocations include 哑然无声.

Quán全
chǎng场
yǎ哑
rán然
 ，
wú无
rén人
gǎn敢
chū出
shēng声
 。

The whole audience fell silent; no one dared to make a sound.

Huì会
chǎng场
tū突
rán然
biàn变
de得
yǎ哑
rán然
wú无
shēng声
 。

The hall suddenly became completely quiet.

2.

adjective

dumbfounded; speechless with astonishment

literary

Describes being shocked into silence. Often used in the phrase 哑然失惊.

Tīng听
dào到
zhè这
gè个
è噩
hào耗
 ，
tā他
yǎ哑
rán然
shī失
jīng惊
 。

Hearing the terrible news, he was shocked into speechlessness.

Zhòng众
rén人
yǎ哑
rán然
 ，
miàn面
miàn面
xiāng相
qù觑
 。

Everyone was dumbfounded, looking at each other in dismay.

3.

adjective

bursting into involuntary laughter

literary

Almost exclusively used in the idiom 哑然失笑 (to burst out laughing; cannot help laughing). Note: Historically, the character 哑 in this sense was pronounced 'è' rather than 'yǎ'.

Xiǎng想
dào到
nà那
gè个
huá滑
jī稽
de的
chǎng场
jǐng景
 ，
tā他
bù不
jīn禁
yǎ哑
rán然
shī失
xiào笑
 。

Thinking of that comical scene, he couldn't help bursting into laughter.

Zhè这
gè个
huāng荒
miù谬
de的
lǐ理
yóu由
ràng让
rén人
yǎ哑
rán然
shī失
xiào笑
 。

This absurd reason makes people laugh involuntarily.