‘发音’ literally means ‘to emit sound’ — ‘发’ (fā) means ‘to send out, to issue’, and ‘音’ (yīn) means ‘sound’ or ‘tone’. Together, they form a noun meaning ‘pronunciation’: the way a word or language is spoken, especially with attention to correct sounds, tones, and articulation. It’s commonly used in language learning, speech therapy, and teaching contexts.

This term focuses on the physical act and accuracy of speaking — not just how something sounds, but whether it matches standard or native-like production. It often appears in phrases like ‘标准发音’ (standard pronunciation), ‘纠正发音’ (correct pronunciation), or ‘发音不准’ (inaccurate pronunciation). While related to ‘读音’ (reading pronunciation), ‘发音’ emphasizes oral output and articulatory precision more than written-to-spoken conversion.