can1 gan6親近亲近
Jyutpingcan1 gan6
Yalechān gahn
Definition
To get close to someone; to build an intimate relationship with.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Focuses on the active effort or desire to bridge a gap in a relationship. It often implies a deliberate attempt to get closer to someone, sometimes with a specific motive or agenda in mind. Unlike simply being close, this term highlights the process of moving from a distant state to a more familiar one.
Examples
He really wants to be closer to you, don't be so cold.
Why are you suddenly acting so intimate with me?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a state of being close friends, as it refers to the action of getting closer rather than the static condition of having a close bond. Use 熟 instead when describing an existing close relationship.
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.
