鸦雀无声

yá què wú shēng

  • Meaning

    Literal

    Neither the crow nor the sparrow make a sound

    Usage

    Refers to absolute silence

  • Connotation

    Neutral

  • Usage Examples

    同学们都在上自习，教室里鸦雀无声 | Tóngxuémen dōu zài shàng zìxí, jiàoshì lǐ yāquèwúshēng
    The students are all studying, so it's completely silent in the classroom
    [Source]

    顿时台下鸦雀无声，听众凝神聆听 | Dùnshí táixià yāquèwúshēng, tīngzhòng níngshén língtīng
    Immediately the audience fell completely silent, and they began to listen attentively
    [Source]

  • Equivalents

    English

    None

    Chinese

    None

  • Entry Notes

    This is an HSK chengyu

  • Origin

    《景德传灯录》(Jǐng Dé Chuán Dēng Lù), a work by Sòng (宋, 960-1279) Dynasty writer and monk 释道原 (Shì Dào Yuán)

  • Story

    This chengyu is from a line in the work listed in the "Origin" section above

  • Citations and Helpful Resources

    • 汉语成语小词典 (hànyǔ chéngyǔ xiǎo cídiǎn)
    • 现代汉语规范词典 (xiàndài hànyǔ guīfàn cídiǎn)
    • 多功能成语词典 (duō gōngnéng chéngyǔ cídiǎn)
    • 汉语大词典 (hànyǔ dà cídiǎn)
    • ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary
    • Pleco Basic Chinese-English Dictionary
    • 百度百科[x]