zik6穸
Jyutpingzik6
Yalejihk
Definition
The gloom of the grave or a tomb.
writtenother
How it's used
This character is extremely rare in modern spoken Cantonese and is almost exclusively encountered in literary descriptions of dark, desolate, or tomb-like environments. It carries a heavy, eerie connotation that goes beyond simple darkness. You will rarely hear it in casual conversation, as native speakers would typically use 陰森 or 陰暗 to describe such settings.
Examples
It is gloomy and dark over there, it is really scary.
It feels very dark and desolate inside, do not go in.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners should avoid using this in daily life as it sounds overly dramatic or archaic. It is not a standard word for describing a dark room or a dim light.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
