sei2 zik6死寂
Jyutpingsei2 zik6
Yaleséi jihk
Definition
Deadly silent, extremely quiet, or lifeless.
- deathly still; extremely quiet with no sound at all
- lifeless; bleak; listless
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on an eerie or oppressive lack of sound, often implying a sense of emptiness or abandonment. Unlike the neutral term 靜, this carries a heavy, negative connotation that suggests something is wrong or missing. It is frequently used to describe environments that should be lively but have become unnervingly still.
Examples
The whole house is deathly quiet, as if nobody lives there.
After the surgery, the hospital ward was terrifyingly still.
Related words
Common phrases
a state of deathly silence
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a peaceful or pleasant quiet, as it implies a deathly or lifeless atmosphere. Use 寧靜 or 靜雞雞 instead for positive or neutral contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
