鸦雀无声

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: yā què wú shēng
• English Translation: So quiet that even crows and sparrows do not make a sound; completely silent and still
• Idiom Composition: 「鸦」（Crow）＋「雀」（Sparrow）＋「无」（Without, none）＋「声」（Sound, voice）
• Meaning: Describes a state of extreme quietness where even crows and sparrows do not make any sound. It refers to a situation enveloped in complete silence.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「鸦雀无声」 contains the following nuances:

• Complete silence: Expresses thorough quietness to the extent that even birds that usually make noise remain silent.
• Tension and solemnity: Often implies not just quietness but also an atmosphere filled with tension or solemnity.
• Attention and anticipation: Can suggest a situation where people’s attention or anticipation is focused, such as the silence before something begins or after something has happened.

3. Usage

「鸦雀无声」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing a situation: Used to describe a place or environment that is extremely quiet.
  • Example:「会议室内鸦雀无声，所有人都在聚精会神地听报告。」
    （The meeting room was completely silent, with everyone intently listening to the report.）
• Figurative expression: Used metaphorically to describe people falling silent or an atmosphere filled with tension.
  • Example:「他的话音刚落，整个会议室就变得鸦雀无声，气氛异常紧张。」
    （As soon as he finished speaking, the entire meeting room fell into complete silence, and the atmosphere became extremely tense.）

Additional Examples:

1. 考试开始了，整个教室鸦雀无声，只有笔尖在纸上沙沙作响。
   （The exam started, and the whole classroom was completely silent, with only the sound of pens scratching on paper.）
2. 夜深人静，小区里鸦雀无声，只有偶尔传来的狗叫声。
   （Late at night, the neighborhood was completely silent, with only the occasional bark of a dog breaking the quiet.）
3. 演讲结束后，全场鸦雀无声，随后爆发出雷鸣般的掌声。
   （After the speech ended, the entire venue was completely silent, followed by thunderous applause.）
4. 上课铃响了，原本喧闹的操场顿时变得鸦雀无声。
   （When the class bell rang, the previously noisy playground instantly became completely silent.）
5. 法官宣布判决结果时，法庭内鸦雀无声，所有人都屏住了呼吸。
   （When the judge announced the verdict, the courtroom was completely silent, and everyone held their breath.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• In Chinese culture, crows and sparrows are common birds whose calls are part of everyday life. The idiom '鸦雀无声' emphasizes the silence of a place by expressing that even these familiar birds do not make a sound, highlighting the profound quietness of the scene.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 万籁俱寂 (wàn lài jù jì): All sounds cease; complete silence.
  • 悄无声息 (qiǎo wú shēng xī): Quiet and silent; completely still.
  • 寂然无声 (jì rán wú shēng): Silent and still; without any sound.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 人声鼎沸 (rén shēng dǐng fèi): Noisy with the loud voices of many people.
  • 沸反盈天 (fèi fǎn yíng tiān): A great uproar; noise filling the sky.
  • 喧哗吵闹 (xuān huá chǎo nào): Noisy and clamorous; loud and disruptive.

6. Summary

'鸦雀无声' is a beautiful and unique Chinese idiom that expresses profound silence so deep that even the calls of everyday birds cannot be heard. Using this phrase allows one to richly convey not only quietness but also the atmosphere and psychological state of people present. Understanding the deep meaning of this idiom can enhance appreciation when engaging with Chinese culture and literature.