si1噝咝
Jyutpingsi1
Yalesī
Definition
To hiss, whiz, or make a hissing sound; or a call to come.
- figurativeto hiss or whiz
- a call to come
colloquialcommunicationdaily actions
How it's used
This term functions primarily as an onomatopoeic verb to describe the sharp sound of air escaping or a quick, sharp intake of breath used to get someone's attention. It is rarely used in formal writing and is mostly confined to describing specific sounds or informal gestures. When used to call someone, it is often considered quite rude or dismissive, similar to whistling at a person.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the sound of a snake, as it is frequently used in human interaction to signal someone to come over or to express annoyance. Using it to call a stranger is socially inappropriate and can be seen as disrespectful.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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).
