laang5 zin3冷戰冷战
Jyutpinglaang5 zin3
Yaleláahng jin
Definition
The Cold War, or the silent treatment between people who are ignoring each other.
- the Cold War, the post-WWII geopolitical confrontation
- figurativethe silent treatment; a state of mutual neglect or silent conflict
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Beyond the historical geopolitical context, this term is frequently used to describe the passive aggressive state of not speaking to someone after an argument. It implies a deliberate choice to withhold communication as a form of emotional distance or punishment. Unlike a heated shouting match, this state is defined by an uncomfortable, heavy silence that persists until one party breaks the ice.
Examples
The couple is giving each other the silent treatment; they haven't spoken a word all week.
Are you two still giving each other the silent treatment? You should go talk it out with them soon.
Related words
Common phrases
currently in a state of silent treatment
to fall into a state of silent treatment
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a simple misunderstanding or a brief moment of silence. It specifically refers to a sustained period of intentional non-communication between people who are usually close.
Grammar color guide
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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).
