Linguistics term for the smallest unit of sound that distinguishes meaning. Often contrasted with 音素 (also 'phoneme'), but 音韻 is more traditional and may appear in compound terms like 音韻論 (phonology).
See also: 音素
The phoneme system of Japanese is relatively simple.
vocal sound; tone quality; timbre
Refers to the auditory quality or character of a voice or instrument, not a linguistic unit. Can describe the timbre, resonance, or tonal color of a sound.
His voice has a unique timbre.
initial and final (Chinese syllable structure)
Technical term in Chinese phonology referring to the initial consonant and the final (rest of the syllable). Rarely used outside academic contexts.
Chinese syllable structure is divided into initials and finals.
phonetics; phonology
phonology
phonological alternation; sound alternation
phonological system; phoneme system
phonologist
From Middle Chinese 音韻 (ʔˠiɪm ɦɨunH), meaning 'sound' and 'rhyme/tone'. The term entered Japanese as a Sino-Japanese word used in traditional Chinese phonology and later in general linguistics.