咳嗽
ké sou HSK 4

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他感冒了,一直咳嗽。
Tā gǎnmào le, yīzhí késou.
He has a cold and keeps coughing.
我咳嗽得很厉害。
Wǒ késou de hěn lìhài.
I cough very badly.
别咳嗽,太吵了。
Bié késou, tài chǎo le.
Don't cough, it's too noisy.
他咳嗽了。
Tā késou le.
He coughed.
我咳嗽得厉害。
Wǒ késou de lìhài.
I cough badly.

💡 Memory Tip

Break the word down: 咳 (ké) sounds like 'cough,' and 嗽 (sou) resembles the sound of coughing. Think of it as the onomatopoeic 'cough-sou' to remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in tone and used in both formal and informal contexts, as well as in spoken and written Chinese. It frequently appears in medical discussions, daily health descriptions, and advice-giving scenarios, such as when talking about symptoms or recommending treatment.

📖 Grammar Points

As a verb, 咳嗽 can be used with adverbs to describe manner (e.g., 咳嗽得厉害 - cough badly) and often appears in conditional or advice structures, such as in the example sentence using 如果...就... (if...then...). It does not typically take an object.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, coughing is often associated with health concerns, and persistent coughing might prompt advice to see a doctor or try traditional remedies like herbal soups. It's common to express concern by asking about someone's cough in daily interactions.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar words include 咳 (ké), which is a shorter, more informal form of 'cough' often used in speech, and 喘 (chuǎn), meaning 'to pant' or 'to wheeze,' which involves breathing difficulties rather than just throat clearing. 咳嗽 specifically emphasizes the full action and sound of coughing.

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