话音 (huàyīn): one's speaking voice

Meanings

1 one's speaking voice
2 tone of one's words
3 implication / what is implied

Characters

话

Examples

他话音刚落,大家就鼓起掌来。

Tā huàyīn gāng luò, dàjiā jiù gǔ qǐ zhǎng lái.

The moment his voice trailed off, everyone burst into applause.

听她的话音,好像有点不高兴。

Tīng tā de huàyīn, hǎoxiàng yǒudiǎn bù gāoxìng.

From the tone of her voice, she seems a bit upset.

Tips

usage

Two main uses: (1) the literal sound/voice of speech — 话音刚落 ('the words had just fallen', a stock phrase meaning 'right after someone finished speaking'); (2) the implication or undertone behind what someone says — 听他话音 ('listening to his tone' / reading between his lines).