mou4 jin4無言无言
Jyutpingmou4 jin4
Yalemòuh yìhn
Definition
Speechless; having nothing to say, often due to disbelief, shock, or exasperation.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Used primarily to express a feeling of exasperation or disbelief when faced with something absurd or illogical. Unlike the formal sense of being unable to speak due to grief or deep emotion, this colloquial usage focuses on the frustration of having no words to respond to someone else's stupidity or unreasonable behavior.
Examples
He said such nonsense, it really left me speechless.
Seeing such an outrageous result, do you feel speechless?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the formal literary term for being unable to speak due to sadness. In casual conversation, it is almost exclusively used to describe the reaction to something annoying or ridiculous.
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.
