bin1鞭
Jyutpingbin1
Yalebīn
Definition
To whip, lash, or thrash with a whip or rope.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
Beyond the literal act of using a physical whip, this term is frequently used metaphorically in professional or academic contexts to mean urging someone to work harder or faster. It carries a sense of pressure or discipline, similar to the English concept of cracking the whip. When used in this figurative sense, it often implies that the person being whipped is lagging behind or not performing up to expectations.
Examples
He picked up the whip and lashed the ox hard.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the noun form referring to the whip itself, as the verb usage specifically focuses on the action of striking. Learners sometimes mistakenly use it for general hitting, but it specifically implies a striking motion with a flexible object like a lash or a rod.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
