jam4 si1吟詩吟诗
Jyutpingjam4 si1
Yaleyàmh sī
Definition
To recite poetry
colloquialother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the rhythmic, often melodic way of chanting or reciting classical Chinese poetry. It carries a sense of literary refinement and is rarely used for modern free verse or casual reading. The term implies a performance-like quality rather than just reading words off a page.
Examples
keoi5 hou2 zung1 ji3 hai2 gung1 jyun2 jam4 si1
佢好鍾意喺公園吟詩。
He really likes reciting poems in the park.
nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 jam4 si1 aa4
你識唔識吟詩呀？
Do you know how to recite poems?
Related words
Common phrases
jam4 si1 zok3 deoi3
吟詩作對
to recite poems and compose couplets
Common mistake
Do not use this for reading prose or modern text, as it specifically evokes the traditional cultural practice of reciting classical verse. Using it for a standard book report or reading a newspaper article would sound bizarrely archaic.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
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