sai1嘶
Definition
Sibilant hiss, or a sound made by sucking air through the teeth to indicate hesitation, thinking, or pain.
How it's used
Representing the sound of sucking air through teeth, this is a common vocalized pause used when someone is contemplating a difficult decision or expressing mild hesitation. It functions similarly to 'hmm' in English but carries a specific nuance of weighing a problem or sensing a potential complication. It is almost exclusively used in spoken contexts to signal that the speaker is currently processing information.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the written character used for animal sounds or literary descriptions of wind, as the spoken interjection is purely a functional sound for hesitation. It is not a formal word and should be avoided in written reports or professional correspondence.
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.
