Vocal Folds in Chinese: Complete Guide to Translation, Pronunciation, and Usage

What is "vocal folds" in Chinese? The answer first

When you're reading English medical articles, singing tutorials, or linguistics materials and see the term "vocal folds," you want to quickly know the Chinese meaning. Simply put, the most common Chinese translation of "vocal folds" is 声带 (shēngdài), and in anatomy it is also often written as 声襞 (shēngbì).

It refers to a pair of folds at the top of the throat. When air from the lungs passes through, the edges of these folds move rapidly back and forth, producing sound.

What's the difference between vocal folds and vocal cords?

These two English terms are often used interchangeably and refer to the same structure. The Cambridge Dictionary entry for "vocal cords" notes "also vocal folds" and translates it into Chinese as 声带. Some English-Chinese dictionaries translate "vocal folds" directly as 声襞.

English	Common Chinese translation	Usage context
vocal cords	声带	Most common in everyday, medical, and general writing
vocal folds	声带, 声襞	More common in anatomy, linguistics, and singing instruction

In other words, if you just want to know the Chinese, "声带" is the answer. If you see "声襞" in a professional article, it refers to the same pair of structures.

Pronunciation and part of speech

• vocal cords: plural noun, UK pronunciation /ˈvəʊ.kəl ˌkɔːdz/, US /ˈvoʊ.kəl ˌkɔːrdz/.
• vocal fold: noun, usually used in the plural vocal folds, UK /ˈvəʊ.kəl ˌfəʊldz/, US /ˈvoʊ.kəl ˌfoʊldz/.

In sentences, "vocal folds" usually appears in the plural because it is a pair.

Example sentences

• The airflow is modulated at the vibration frequency of the vocal folds.
• There is right vocal fold paralysis causing the voice change.
• When the vocal folds inside the larynx vibrate more quickly, we hear a higher pitch.

Related vocabulary

If you're looking up "vocal folds," you may also encounter the following terms:

• vocal ligament: 声韧带
• vocal fry: 气泡音 (low-frequency irregular vocal fold vibration)
• vocal fold cyst: 声带囊肿
• vocal fold paralysis: 声带麻痹
• vocal fold adduction: 声带内收
• vocal fold abduction: 声带外展

Frequently asked questions

Q1: Is "vocal folds" in Chinese 声带 or 声襞?
Both are correct. In everyday and general medical writing, 声带 is most common; in anatomy or linguistics literature, 声襞 is more often used to refer to the same structure.

Q2: Can "vocal folds" and "vocal cords" be used interchangeably?
Yes. They refer to the same pair of laryngeal folds, and the Cambridge Dictionary directly marks them as synonyms.

Q3: Is "vocal folds" plural?
Yes. It is a pair of folds, so it usually appears in the plural; the singular is "vocal fold."

Q4: How do you pronounce "vocal folds"?
UK /ˈvəʊ.kəl ˌfəʊldz/, US /ˈvoʊ.kəl ˌfoʊldz/. In practice, it can be split into "vocal" + "folds."

Q5: Is the "vocal fold closure" often mentioned in singing related to vocal folds?
Yes. Vocal fold closure refers to the closure and vibration state of the vocal folds, which affects timbre and pitch.

Q6: Where can I find more complete definitions?
You can refer to the Cambridge Dictionary entries for "vocal cords" and "vocal fold," as well as general English-Chinese dictionary explanations of "vocal folds."

References

• VOCAL CORDS中文(繁体)翻译：剑桥词典
• vocal folds 的中文翻譯及影片例句┃VoiceTube 看影片學英語
• vocal folds中文, vocal folds中文意思
• VOCAL CORDS中文(简体)翻译：剑桥词典
• VOCAL FOLD在剑桥英语词典中的解释及翻译