jin4 ngoi6 zi1 jam1絃外之音弦外之音

Jyutpingjin4 ngoi6 zi1 jam1

Yaleyìhn ngoih jī yām

Definition

Implication; an implied meaning that is not explicitly stated in words.

colloquialcommunication

How it's used

Refers to the subtle, unstated message behind someone's words, often used when someone is being indirect or sarcastic. It is a formal idiom that is frequently used in casual conversation to describe someone who is being intentionally vague or cryptic. Using this phrase suggests that the speaker is observant and capable of picking up on social cues or hidden agendas.

Examples

keoi5佢gong2講je5嘢hou2好zung1鍾ji3意gong2講jin4絃ngoi6外zi1之jam1音，zan1真hai6係naan4難gu2估。

He loves speaking with hidden meanings, it is really hard to guess.

nei5你teng1聽m4唔teng1聽dak1得ceot1出keoi5佢geoi3句jau5有jin4絃ngoi6外zi1之jam1音aa4呀？

Can you hear the implication in what he said?

Common phrases

teng1聽ceot1出jin4絃ngoi6外zi1之jam1音

to detect the hidden meaning

cung1充mun5滿jin4絃ngoi6外zi1之jam1音

full of implications

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal musical term because of the character 絃, but it is strictly used in a metaphorical sense regarding communication. Do not use it to describe actual musical sounds or literal string instruments.