開hoi1聲seng1

English

1. to speak out; to request; the act of "opening" the voice before singing
2. to start talking or singing
3. to speak up; to voice out (to express concern or to support someone, etc.)
4. to turn on the ringtone or volume of a device
5. vocal warm-up, an pre-performance exercise to fine-tune one's vocal muscles

粵語 — Cantonese

1. 開口發出聲音
2. 引申指發表意見、指出問題、表示支持
3. 開着電子裝置嘅響聲或者音量
4. 正式唱歌之前嘅熱身，唱一啲簡單嘅音或者做一啲簡單嘅練習，用嚟熟習唱歌運聲

Examples

• 開到聲

  to say something explicitly

• 佢一開聲我就知道係佢啦。

  I know it's him once he starts talking. ----

• 佢終於開聲支持自己老婆。

  Finally, he speaks up for his wife. ----

• 佢電話唔開聲，成日揾佢唔到。

  His phone is always on silent mode and therefore he is always unreachable. ----

• 有咩就打字啦，返工唔可以開聲。

  Type it out if you have anything to say. I can't turn on the volume during working hours.

• 如果唔開聲就上台，會唱得好難聽。

  One's performance would be disastrous if he skipped his vocal warm-up.