tong1 gai1劏雞劏鸡
Jyutpingtong1 gai1
Yaletōng gāi
Definition
To produce horrible, screeching sounds by singing or playing string instruments poorly.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
This expression is a vivid metaphor used specifically to describe grating, high pitched, or off key sounds produced by string instruments or untrained singers. It relies on the visceral image of a chicken's distress call to emphasize how unpleasant the performance is to the listener. It is a harsh critique, so avoid using it in front of the performer unless you intend to be insulting.
Examples
His erhu playing sounds like a screeching chicken, it is awful.
Can you please stop making those screeching noises?
Related words
Common phrases
playing like a screeching chicken
singing like a screeching chicken
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe loud noises in general, such as construction or traffic. It is strictly reserved for musical or vocal performances that sound like screeching.
Grammar color guide
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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).
