caan4殘残
Jyutpingcaan4
Yalechàahn
Definition
Flawed, incomplete, or damaged.
colloquialdescriptionshealth
How it's used
Describes objects that are old, worn out, or in poor condition, as well as people who look physically exhausted or drained. It implies a sense of decay or lack of freshness rather than just being old. When applied to people, it specifically highlights a tired, sickly, or unkempt appearance.
Examples
This phone is really worn out, it breaks all the time.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 殘廢, which is a sensitive term for disability. Using 殘 to describe a person's appearance is informal and can sound blunt or rude depending on the context.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
