cing1 taam4清談清谈
Jyutpingcing1 taam4
Yalechīng tàahm
Definition
To engage in empty or idle conversation; casual chatting with no practical purpose.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
清談 often implies a relaxed, aimless conversation that lacks a specific agenda or productive outcome. It is frequently used in media contexts to describe talk shows where guests engage in casual, unstructured discussion. Unlike casual chatting, it carries a slightly more intellectual or detached nuance, suggesting talk for the sake of talk.
Examples
They spent the whole night just making idle talk and didn't discuss anything serious.
Related words
Common phrases
talk show
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 傾偈, which is the standard, everyday term for chatting. Using 清談 in a casual social setting can sound overly formal or slightly pretentious, as if you are describing a structured discussion rather than just hanging out.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
