‘清脆’ (qīng cuì) is an adjective describing sounds that are clear, sharp, and pleasantly ringing—like a bell, a bird’s call, or a crisp snap. The first character 清 (qīng) means 'clear' or 'pure', suggesting clarity and lack of muddiness; the second character 脆 (cuì) means 'brittle' or 'crisp', evoking a clean, sudden, resonant quality. Together, they emphasize both auditory purity and energetic brightness.

This word is commonly used for natural and pleasant high-frequency sounds—especially birdsong (e.g., sparrows or magpies), children’s laughter, wind chimes, or even certain musical notes like those from a xylophone or guqin. It carries a positive, refreshing connotation and is rarely applied to harsh or unpleasant noises (those would use words like 刺耳). In literature and daily speech, it often appears in descriptive passages about spring mornings, gardens, or rural scenes where lively, uncluttered sounds dominate.