bun6胖
Jyutpingbun6
Yalebuhn
Definition
Fat, chubby, or obese; having a body with a lot of flesh and fat.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 肥 instead of 胖 in daily speech. Using 胖 sounds like you are reading from a formal book or a Mandarin textbook, which can sound unnatural or overly clinical in casual conversation. 肥 is the standard, neutral term for describing someone with a larger body frame.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 胖 in spoken Cantonese as it is considered a literary or Mandarin-influenced term. Using 肥 is the natural way to describe weight, and it is not necessarily considered rude unless used in a derogatory context.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
