'响声' (xiǎng shēng) is a compound noun meaning 'sound' or 'noise'—specifically, an audible sound produced by an action, event, or object. The first character 响 (xiǎng) means 'to resound' or 'to make a sound', emphasizing audibility and often implying clarity or intensity; the second character 声 (shēng) means 'voice' or 'sound' in a general sense. Together, they form a concrete, countable noun for a distinct auditory event—like a bang, rustle, or chirp—not abstract 'sound' as in physics or music. It's commonly used in everyday descriptions of sudden or noticeable noises.

This word appears frequently in narratives, reports, and spoken Chinese when identifying or reacting to sounds: e.g., hearing a响声 behind you, describing what a machine makes, or noting animal calls. Unlike the more neutral 声音 (shēng yīn), 响声 often carries a slight connotation of abruptness, physical origin, or perceptible impact—and is rarely used for human speech or melodic tones.