aa1 zoek3 mou4 sing1鴉雀無聲鸦雀无声
Jyutpingaa1 zoek3 mou4 sing1
Yaleā jeuk mòuh sīng
Definition
Dead silence; a state where everyone is completely quiet and not a single sound is heard.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is used to describe a sudden, heavy silence that falls over a group of people, often due to tension, shock, or a sudden change in atmosphere. While it sounds formal, it is frequently used in casual speech to emphasize how quiet a room became after a noisy period. It carries a slightly dramatic flair compared to simply saying 靜晒.
Examples
As soon as the teacher entered the classroom, the whole class went dead silent.
Why is everyone suddenly so quiet?
Related words
Common phrases
the whole venue fell into dead silence
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a place that is naturally quiet, like a library or a park at night. It specifically implies a transition from noise to silence, or a situation where people are intentionally holding their breath or avoiding speech.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
