咽喉

yānhóu

noun HSK 7 #18,119

Meanings

1 throat; pharynx
2 vital passage; strategic chokepoint

Characters

pharynx; throat

Both mean 'throat' — 咽 is the pharynx (back of mouth), 喉 is the larynx (voice box). Together they cover the whole throat area.

Examples

他咽喉发炎了。

Tā yānhóu fāyán le.

He has a throat inflammation.

这个港口是海上贸易的咽喉要地。

Zhège gǎngkǒu shì hǎishàng màoyì de yānhóu yàodì.

This port is a vital chokepoint for maritime trade.

Tips

usage

咽喉 is more formal/medical than 嗓子 (sǎngzi, colloquial for throat) or 喉咙 (hóulóng, everyday word). In its figurative meaning of 'strategic chokepoint,' it appears in military and geopolitical contexts — 咽喉要道 means a vital passage.

Stroke Order

咽 yàn

喉 hóu