caan3孱
Jyutpingcaan3
Yalechaan
Definition
Weak, feeble, or delicate; can also refer to a weakling.
- weak; feeble; delicate
- slangweakling
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
Often used to describe someone who appears physically frail or lacks stamina, rather than just being thin. It carries a slightly derogatory or pitying tone, implying that the person is not robust enough for physical exertion or prone to illness. It is frequently paired with body-related terms to emphasize a lack of vitality.
Examples
He is very weak, he gets out of breath after walking a few steps.
You eat so little, no wonder your body is so weak.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 潺, which is used to describe liquid flowing or a slimy texture. While they share a similar visual component, they are not interchangeable.
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.
