Meaning:

    “娃娃” means “children,” and “音” means “sound.” This term refers to a special sweet, cute and doll-like talking or singing style. An often mentioned example is model-turned-actress Lin Chi-ling, who said she learned to grow out of the voice while starring in the movie “Red Cliff.”

    Example:

    A: 小李的女朋友你见过吗？

    Xiǎolǐ de nǚpéngyǒu nǐ jiànguò ma?

    Have you met Xiaoli’s girlfriend?

    B: 见过。上周我们去海边玩，小李带她一起去了。

    Jiànguò。Shàngzhōu wǒmen qù hǎibiān wán, xiǎolǐ dài tā yīqǐ qù le。

    Yeah. He took her with him when we went to the beach last week.

    A: 怎么样？

    Zěnme yàng?

    How is she?

    B: 很活泼漂亮，我们都喜欢她，不过她说话的娃娃音有点让人受不了。

    Hěn huópō piàoliàng, wǒmen dōu xǐhuan tā, bùguò tā shuōhuà de wáwáyīn yǒudiǎn ràng rén shòubùliǎo。

    She’s lively and pretty and everybody likes her. Only her childlike voice is a little hard to take.