Definition
噩耗 (è hào) is a formal, literary noun for 'grievous news', almost always referring to a death. It is stronger and more solemn than the general word 消息 (xiāoxi 'news') and is used in writing or serious spoken contexts, often with verbs like 传来 (come in) or 告诉 (tell).
noun
news of someone's deathsad news of a death
Examples
- 噩耗，。Jīntiān zǎoshang chuánlái yí gè è hào, tā de fùqin zuótiān yèli qùshì le.This morning came the grievous news that his father passed away last night.
- 噩耗。Shéi dōu bù rěnxīn bǎ zhège è hào gàosu tā.No one had the heart to tell her this tragic news.
- 噩耗。Zhè tiáo è hào ràng zhěng gè chéngshì xiànrù le bēitòng.This piece of terrible news plunged the whole city into grief.
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