cam4 jyu4 lok6 ngaan6沉魚落雁沉鱼落雁
Jyutpingcam4 jyu4 lok6 ngaan6
Yalechàhm yùh lohk ngaahn
Definition
Breathtakingly beautiful, describing a woman so stunning that fish sink and geese fall from the sky.
neutraldescriptionspeople
How it's used
This idiom is a classic literary expression used to describe extreme female beauty. While it originates from classical Chinese poetry, it is still frequently used in modern spoken Cantonese to compliment someone in a slightly dramatic or hyperbolic way. It carries a sense of traditional elegance that sets it apart from more modern slang terms for attractiveness.
Examples
She was already stunningly beautiful when she was young, and many people pursued her.
Who said she is breathtakingly beautiful? I think she is just average.
Related words
Common phrases
the appearance of someone who is breathtakingly beautiful
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this for men, but it is exclusively reserved for describing women. Using it for a man would sound very strange or sarcastic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
