gwai2 sik6 nai4 gam2 seng1鬼食泥噉聲鬼食泥啖声

Jyutpinggwai2 sik6 nai4 gam2 seng1

Yalegwái sihk nàih gám sēng

Definition

To murmur, mumble, or speak indistinctly and softly.

colloquialcommunicationdescriptions

How it's used

This idiom describes speech that is indistinct, muffled, or too quiet to be understood, similar to the sound of a ghost eating mud. It is frequently used to complain about someone who is mumbling or talking behind someone else's back in an annoying, secretive way. The imagery suggests a lack of clarity and a slightly eerie or unpleasant quality to the sound.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋loeng5兩go3個hai2喺dou6度gwai2鬼sik6食nai4泥gam2噉seng1聲king1傾gan2緊gai2計。

The two of them are whispering to each other.

nei5你gong2講je5嘢sai3細seng1聲di1啲laa1啦，gwai2鬼sik6食nai4泥gam2噉seng1聲hou2好naan4難teng1聽cing1清co2楚。

Speak a bit louder, it is hard to hear clearly when you mumble like that.

Common phrases

gwai2鬼sik6食nai4泥gam2噉seng1聲gong2講je5嘢

to mumble

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe a quiet but clear voice, as it specifically implies that the words are garbled or unintelligible. It carries a negative connotation of being secretive or lazy in articulation rather than just low in volume.