沙哑 (shā yǎ) is an adjective describing a voice that sounds rough, raspy, or strained—typically due to illness, shouting, fatigue, or irritation of the vocal cords. The character 沙 (shā) literally means 'sand' and evokes a gritty, grainy quality; 哑 (yǎ) means 'mute' or 'unable to speak clearly', suggesting impaired vocal function. Together, they vividly convey the sensation of a voice losing its smoothness and clarity.

This word is used exclusively for voices—not for other sounds—and is common in health-related contexts, daily conversations about colds or sore throats, and descriptions of singers or speakers after overuse. It’s neutral in register: appropriate in both spoken and written Chinese, but not formal enough for clinical reports (where terms like 声音嘶哑 or 喉炎 may be preferred). It often appears after 是, 感觉, or sounds like 很, 有点, or 一直.