soeng3 sing1相聲相声
Jyutpingsoeng3 sing1
Yaleseung sīng
Definition
Crosstalk; a traditional Chinese comedic performing art featuring witty dialogue and joking.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Beyond the formal performance art, this term is frequently used metaphorically to describe someone who is being overly dramatic, sarcastic, or trying to make a joke out of a serious situation. It implies a sense of theatricality or insincerity in the person's speech. When used this way, it often carries a slightly mocking tone.
Examples
The two of them are really hilarious when they perform crosstalk.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with stand-up comedy in the Western sense, as it is a specific traditional Chinese performance art involving two people, or occasionally one, relying on rapid-fire dialogue and wordplay.
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.
