jam1 seng1 sai3 hei3陰聲細氣阴声细气
Jyutpingjam1 seng1 sai3 hei3
Yaleyām sēng sai hei
Definition
Speaking in a soft, weak, and unnaturally quiet voice, often with a negative or creepy undertone.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong negative connotation, implying that the person's soft voice is either insincere, effeminate in a derogatory way, or downright eerie. It is rarely used to describe someone who is simply polite or naturally quiet. Using it to describe a person often suggests you find their manner of speaking suspicious or annoying.
Examples
Why are you whispering like that? Speak up a bit.
He always speaks in that soft, creepy way, it sounds very uncomfortable.
Related words
Common phrases
to speak in a soft and creepy manner
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is genuinely shy or soft-spoken, as it implies a lack of authenticity or a hidden, unsettling agenda. It is an insult rather than a neutral description of volume.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
