‘喘鸣’ (chuǎn míng) is a medical noun referring to the high-pitched, whistling or rattling sound produced when air passes through narrowed or obstructed airways—commonly known in English as 'wheezing'. The character 喘 means 'to pant' or 'labored breathing', emphasizing respiratory effort, while 鸣 means 'to make a sound' or 'to chirp', highlighting the audible quality of the symptom. Together, they form a compound that specifically denotes this abnormal respiratory sound—not just general breathlessness, but the distinctive auditory sign.

This term is used primarily in clinical and health-related contexts, especially by doctors, nurses, and in patient education materials. It appears in diagnoses like '支气管哮喘伴喘鸣' (bronchial asthma with wheezing) or descriptions of acute respiratory conditions such as bronchiolitis or allergic reactions. Unlike everyday words for 'breathing heavily', 喘鸣 carries technical precision and implies an underlying pathology requiring attention.