gam3噤
Jyutpinggam3
Yalegam
Definition
Silent, quiet, or unable to speak.
colloquialcommunicationdaily actions
How it's used
Primarily used in the sense of suppressing sound or keeping quiet, often involving physical action like covering the mouth. It is frequently paired with 聲 to describe the act of staying silent or being silenced. Unlike the Mandarin equivalent which often implies a state of being, the Cantonese usage often focuses on the active effort to remain mute.
Examples
He was so scared he went completely silent, not daring to say a word.
Why are you keeping your mouth shut and not saying anything?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 撳, which means to press or push a button. While they share the same sound in some contexts, 噤 specifically relates to silence or the mouth, whereas 撳 is strictly for physical pressure.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
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.
