‘聋哑’ (lóng yǎ) is a compound noun meaning ‘deaf-mute’ — a person who is both deaf (unable to hear) and mute (unable to speak). The first character, 聋 (lóng), means ‘deaf’; the second, 哑 (yǎ), means ‘mute’ or ‘unable to speak’. Historically, the term was used descriptively, but today it’s considered outdated and potentially stigmatizing in medical and educational contexts, where more precise, person-first language like ‘a person who is deaf and uses sign language’ is preferred.

While still found in older texts, official documents, or informal speech, ‘聋哑’ carries clinical or institutional connotations — for example, in names of schools (e.g., 聋哑学校) or historical reports. It reflects a traditional view linking hearing loss directly with speech absence, though modern understanding recognizes that many deaf people develop speech or use alternative communication methods like sign language, lip-reading, or assistive technology.