can1 man5親吻亲吻
Jyutpingcan1 man5
Yalechān máhn
Definition
To kiss another person, typically on the cheek or the mouth.
neutraldaily actionspeople
How it's used
Although 親吻 is the standard term for kissing, it sounds quite formal or literary in daily Cantonese conversation. Most people prefer using the English loanword 錫 to describe the act of kissing or pecking someone on the cheek. Using 親吻 in a casual setting can make you sound like you are reading from a script or describing a scene in a movie.
Examples
They are kissing on the street.
Related words
Common phrases
to kiss on the cheek
Common mistake
Learners often use 親吻 in casual situations where 錫 is much more natural. Additionally, avoid confusing 親吻 with 錫嘴, which specifically refers to kissing on the lips.
Grammar color guide
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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.
