gam3 joek6 hon4 sim4噤若寒蟬噤若寒蝉

Jyutpinggam3 joek6 hon4 sim4

Yalegam yeuhk hòhn sìhm

動詞

Definition

To remain silent out of fear; to dare not express one's opinion.

writtenemotionpeople

How it's used

This idiom is a formal chengyu that carries a heavy, serious tone, often used to describe a tense or oppressive atmosphere in a workplace or social setting. While it is perfectly understood in Cantonese, it is rarely used in casual, lighthearted conversation because of its literary nature. It effectively paints a picture of people who are terrified of the consequences of speaking their minds.

Examples

lou5老baan2闆jat1一faat3發fo2火，cyun4全coeng4場zik1即hak1刻gam3噤joek6若hon4寒sim4蟬。

Once the boss got angry, everyone in the room immediately fell silent out of fear.

dim2點gaai2解nei5你dei6哋hoi1開wui2會go2嗰zan6陣gam3噤joek6若hon4寒sim4蟬㗎？

Why were you all so afraid to speak up during the meeting?

Common phrases

haak3嚇dou3到gam3噤joek6若hon4寒sim4蟬

scared into silence

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a common everyday verb, but it is a literary idiom that sounds quite stiff if used in informal settings. Avoid using it to describe simple shyness or quietness, as it specifically implies a state of fear or intimidation.