lap1 sing1 dou1 m4 ceot1粒聲都唔出粒声都唔出
Jyutpinglap1 sing1 dou1 m4 ceot1
Yalelāp sīng dōu m̀h chēut
Definition
To remain completely silent; to not utter a single sound.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
This idiom is used to describe someone who is being unusually quiet or refusing to speak when they are expected to communicate. It carries a slightly accusatory or concerned tone, implying that the person's silence is noticeable or problematic in the current situation. It is much more expressive than simply saying 唔講嘢.
Examples
He hasn't said a word all night, is he unhappy?
Related words
Common phrases
stay silent all night
stay silent throughout the whole process
Common mistake
Learners often try to use this as a general description for a quiet person, but it is specifically for a temporary state of silence in a situation where speaking is anticipated. It is not used to describe someone who is naturally introverted or shy.
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).
