jap1 bat1 sing4 sing1泣不成聲泣不成声

Jyutpingjap1 bat1 sing4 sing1

Yaleyāp bāt sìhng sīng

語句

Definition

To weep so bitterly that one cannot speak; to choke with sobs.

writtenemotion

How it's used

This idiom describes a state of intense sorrow where one is physically unable to speak clearly due to uncontrollable sobbing. It is a formal expression often used in written reports, news, or serious storytelling rather than casual daily conversation. While it conveys deep emotional pain, it is not used to describe minor crying or simple sadness.

Examples

keoi5佢jat1一gong2講hei2起go2嗰gin2件si6事zau6就jap1泣bat1不sing4成sing1聲。

He choked with sobs as soon as he started talking about that incident.

gin3見dou2到keoi5佢jap1泣bat1不sing4成sing1聲，ngo5我dou1都m4唔zi1知dim2點on1安wai3慰hou2好。

Seeing her choke with sobs, I didn't know how to comfort her.

Common phrases

dong1當coeng4場jap1泣bat1不sing4成sing1聲

to choke with sobs on the spot

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this as a verb phrase in casual speech, but it is a formal idiom that sounds unnatural in everyday banter. It is better to use colloquial phrases like 喊到收唔到聲 when talking to friends.