baak1廹
Jyutpingbaak1
Yalebāak
Definition
To make a "bark", "pop", or cracking sound, such as by cracking one's knuckles, unsnapping a fastener, or popping bubble wrap.
colloquialdaily actionsbody
How it's used
This word is an onomatopoeic verb specifically describing the sharp, crisp sound made by mechanical actions. It is most commonly associated with the habit of cracking knuckles or the sound of a snap button closing. The sound is distinct from a dull thud or a loud bang, focusing on the high frequency pop.
Examples
Don't keep cracking your fingers, it's bad for you.
He really likes popping that bubble wrap, it's very stress-relieving.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 迫, which is a common character used for 'to force' or 'to squeeze'. While they share a similar shape, 廹 is strictly reserved for the sound-producing action.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
