baak1廹
Jyutpingbaak1
Yalebāk
Definition
Onomatopoeia for sound of something snapping ; to snap
colloquialother
How it's used
This onomatopoeia is specifically reserved for sharp, sudden sounds caused by snapping rigid objects or small explosive bursts. It captures the crispness of the sound better than generic terms like 砰, which implies a heavier or duller impact. It is almost always followed by the particle 一聲 to emphasize the suddenness of the event.
Examples
keoi5 jat1 jung6 lik6 zi1 muk6 gwan3 zau6 baak1 jat1 sing1 tyun5 zo2
佢一用力，支木棍就廹一聲斷咗。
As soon as he applied force, the wooden stick snapped with a pop.
nei5 teng1 dou3 baak1 jat1 sing1 hai6 mai6 jau5 je5 baau3 zo2 aa4
你聽到廹一聲，係咪有嘢爆咗呀？
Did you hear a pop? Did something burst?
Related words
Common phrases
baak1 jat1 sing1
廹一聲
with a pop sound
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the verb 迫, which means to force or pressure someone. While they may share a similar written form in some contexts, the onomatopoeia is strictly used for sound effects and is not a verb.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- 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.
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
