coeng4詳详
Jyutpingcoeng4
Yalechèuhng
Definition
Detailed, thorough, or precise.
neutralcommunicationdescriptions
How it's used
As a morpheme, 詳 rarely stands alone in modern spoken Cantonese and is almost always paired with other characters to form adjectives like 詳盡. It carries a formal or professional tone, often appearing in written reports, official instructions, or serious discussions. When you want to express the idea of being detailed in casual conversation, native speakers prefer using phrases like 講清楚 or 講得好細.
Examples
You need to explain it in more detail so I can understand.
This report is written in great detail.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 詳 as a standalone verb or adjective, but it is a bound morpheme. Always pair it with 盡 or 細 to create a functional word.
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.
