鸦雀无声

• Pinyin: yā què wú shēng
• Hanzi breakdown: 鸦 = 牙 + 鸟 (tooth + bird — crow); 雀 = 小 + 隹 (small + bird — sparrow); 无 = extended sense: nothing/without; 声 = 士 + 耳 (scholar + ear — sound)

Meaning

Dead silence; complete silence; not a sound to be heard. A four-character idiom describing a scene of absolute quiet, typically where a previously noisy gathering falls completely silent.

Literally 'no sound from a crow or a sparrow.' Used to describe sudden, striking silence in a group or crowd — often highlighting a dramatic contrast with prior noise. Common in literary narrative, journalism, and formal speech. Compare 万籁俱寂 (all of nature is silent — used for peaceful, natural quiet rather than crowd silence).

Examples

1. 校长走进原本嘈杂喧闹的食堂，全场顿时鸦雀无声，学生们纷纷放下餐具，端坐静候。 When the principal walked into the previously noisy cafeteria, the entire place fell instantly silent. Students put down their utensils and sat up straight, waiting quietly.
2. 宣读最终判决的那一刻，整个法庭鸦雀无声，所有人都屏住呼吸等待着改变命运的裁决。 At the moment the final verdict was read, the entire courtroom was dead silent; everyone held their breath, waiting for the decision that would change lives.
3. 演讲者话锋一转，抛出了一个出人意料的关键问题，偌大的会议室内立刻鸦雀无声，气氛骤然凝重。 The speaker suddenly shifted gears and asked an unexpected key question. The large conference room went silent at once, and the atmosphere turned heavy.

Usage Guide

Context: narrative, speech, journalism, formal occasions

Tone: vivid

Do Say

• 老教授刚踏入教室，满堂学生立刻鸦雀无声，课堂纪律之严整令外来参观者深为叹服。(The moment the senior professor stepped into the classroom, the room full of students instantly fell into complete silence — the disciplined atmosphere deeply impressed visiting observers.)
• 消息一出，原本热议纷纷的讨论组顿时鸦雀无声，没有人知道该如何应对这突如其来的重大变故。(The moment the news broke, the previously lively discussion group fell utterly silent; no one knew how to respond to this sudden and momentous development.)

Don't Say

• 图书馆里鸦雀无声 — while technically correct, 鸦雀无声 implies a dramatic, noticeable silence often contrasting with prior noise; for a naturally quiet place like a library use 静悄悄的 or 一片寂静 instead

Origin & History

鸦 (crow) + 雀 (sparrow) + 无 (no/none) + 声 (sound) — so quiet that not even a crow or sparrow can be heard

Cultural Context

Era: Classical/Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal