mong4 gwok3 zi1 jam1亡國之音亡国之音
Definition
Sorrowful music played in a failed or doomed nation; decadent or demoralizing music that portends national ruin.
How it's used
Originating from classical literature, this phrase describes melodies associated with the fall of a state, often implying a sense of decadence or impending doom. In modern daily life, it is used figuratively to describe music that sounds overly melancholic, gloomy, or depressing to the point of being unsettling. It carries a heavy, dramatic tone that is rarely used to describe actual historical music but rather to tease someone for listening to something excessively sad.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe sad music in a respectful or empathetic way, as the term carries a strong connotation of failure and collapse. Using it to describe a friend's favorite song will likely come across as sarcastic or mocking.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
