mak6 jin4默然
Jyutpingmak6 jin4
Yalemahk yìhn
Definition
Silent; speechless; without making any sound.
writtendescriptionscommunication
How it's used
This term carries a literary or formal weight that makes it sound quite serious or even solemn in conversation. It is rarely used in casual banter and instead suggests a heavy, thoughtful, or awkward silence rather than just being quiet. Using it in a lighthearted situation can make the speaker sound overly dramatic or like they are reciting a novel.
Examples
After hearing it, he remained silent and said nothing.
Why are you sitting there silently without saying anything?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common way to say quiet, but it is not interchangeable with 靜 or 冇聲. It specifically describes a state of being speechless or pensive, so it sounds unnatural if used to describe a quiet room or a low-volume environment.
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).
