ham4 cuk1含蓄
Jyutpingham4 cuk1
Yalehàhm chūk
Definition
Implicit, reserved, or indirect; not showing emotions or meaning openly.
- implicit; indirect; tactful
- reserved; restrained; keeping one's emotions hidden
neutraldescriptionscommunication
How it's used
Describes a communication style that avoids directness, often out of politeness or a desire to maintain social harmony. It carries a positive connotation of being tactful or sophisticated, unlike being vague or indecisive. It is frequently used to describe someone who prefers to keep their true feelings or intentions hidden behind subtle hints.
Examples
He speaks very implicitly; you need to think about it for a while to understand.
Can you be more direct and not so veiled?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with being shy or introverted, but it specifically refers to the way information or emotion is expressed rather than a personality trait. Using it to describe someone who is simply quiet or socially anxious is usually inaccurate.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
