suk1 saat3肅殺肃杀

Jyutpingsuk1 saat3

Yalesūk saat

形容詞

Definition

Desolate, bleak, and cold; describing the harshness of autumn or winter when vegetation wilts and dies.

writtennaturedescriptions

How it's used

This term is primarily used in literary or formal contexts to describe the chilling, desolate feeling of late autumn or winter when vegetation dies back. It carries a sense of severity and coldness that goes beyond simple weather conditions, often evoking a somber or oppressive mood. While it can describe a landscape, it is sometimes used metaphorically to describe a tense or grim atmosphere in a room or social situation.

Examples

sam1深cau1秋ge3嘅tin1天hei3氣hou2好suk1肅saat3殺，di1啲syu6樹jip6葉cyun4全bou6部dit3跌saai3晒。

The weather in late autumn is so bleak, all the leaves have fallen.

nei1呢dou6度dung1冬tin1天ge3嘅hei3氣fan1氛gam3咁suk1肅saat3殺，zan1真hai6係hou2好m4唔syu1舒fuk6服。

The atmosphere here in winter is so desolate, it really makes people feel uncomfortable.

Common phrases

cau1秋hei3氣suk1肅saat3殺

the bleak and chilling air of autumn

hei3氣fan1氛suk1肅saat3殺

a grim and oppressive atmosphere

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a common weather term, but it is quite formal and rarely used in casual daily conversation. Using it to describe a normal cold day might sound overly dramatic or poetic.