hing1 sing1輕聲轻声
Jyutpinghing1 sing1
Yalehīng sīng
Definition
Soft, gentle, or low in volume.
colloquialdescriptionscommunication
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the volume or intensity of a sound rather than the pitch or tone. It is frequently used as an adverbial modifier by adding 嘅 or 啲 to describe how an action is performed. While it can describe a person's natural speaking volume, it is also commonly used as a polite request for someone to lower their voice in public spaces.
Examples
They speak so softly that I almost couldn't hear them.
Could you please be a bit quieter inside the library?
Related words
Common phrases
speaking in a soft and gentle voice
to speak softly
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 細聲, which is more commonly used to tell someone to turn down the volume of a device or to speak at a lower decibel level. 輕聲 carries a slightly more gentle or refined nuance, whereas 細聲 is a direct and neutral instruction.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
