jyun4玄
Jyutpingjyun4
Yaleyùhn
Definition
Enigmatic; difficult to understand but seemingly deep or meaningful.
colloquialdescriptionscommunication
How it's used
Often used to describe philosophical, spiritual, or overly abstract speech that feels pretentious or unnecessarily complex. It implies that while the speaker might think they are being profound, the listener finds the message inaccessible or vague. It is frequently used in a slightly teasing or impatient tone when someone is trying to sound smarter than they actually are.
Examples
What he says is so cryptic, I cannot understand him at all.
Don't be so enigmatic, just get straight to the point.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 難明, which simply means hard to understand due to complexity or lack of clarity. 玄 specifically carries the nuance of being obscure, mystical, or intentionally deep in a way that feels detached from reality.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
