sik1 jing2息影
Jyutpingsik1 jing2
Yalesīk yíng
Definition
To retire from acting or show business; to stop performing on screen or stage.
neutralpeoplework
How it's used
Reserved specifically for professional entertainers, this term carries a sense of finality and public announcement. It is rarely used for regular jobs, where one would simply say 退休. The term implies a deliberate withdrawal from the spotlight rather than just reaching a pensionable age.
Examples
She retired from acting many years ago, and everyone misses her a lot.
Do you know which celebrity announced their retirement from acting this year?
Related words
Common phrases
to announce retirement from acting
to have been retired from acting for many years
Common mistake
Do not use this for ordinary office workers or professionals, as it sounds overly dramatic and implies they were a public figure. For standard retirement, use 退休 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
