ciu2悄
Jyutpingciu2
Yalechíu
Definition
Quiet, silent, and stealthy; or sad and worried.
- quietly; silently; stealthily
- literarysad; worried; downcast
colloquialdescriptionsemotion
How it's used
While 悄 appears in formal written Chinese, in spoken Cantonese it is almost exclusively used in the reduplicated form 悄悄, often paired with the particle 咁 to describe stealthy movement. When referring to being worried or sad, it carries a sense of quiet, internal distress rather than outward agitation. It is rarely used as a standalone verb in daily speech.
Examples
Why are you looking so worried and unhappy?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 悄 with 靜, but 悄 specifically emphasizes the stealthy or secretive nature of an action, whereas 靜 simply describes a lack of sound.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
