caang1瞠
Jyutpingcaang1
Yalechāang
Definition
To stare at something that is beyond one's reach.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Describes a specific type of longing gaze directed at something that is physically or financially inaccessible. It carries a sense of helplessness or frustration because the subject knows they cannot obtain the object of their desire. It is often used in situations involving luxury goods or unattainable goals.
Examples
Seeing how beautiful the cake is, he can only stare at it longingly.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 望, which is a neutral word for looking. Using 瞠 implies a strong emotional component of desire or envy that is absent in standard verbs for looking.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
