daai3 ngaan5 geng2戴眼鏡戴眼镜
Jyutpingdaai3 ngaan5 geng2
Yaledaai ngáahn géng
Definition
To wear glasses.
colloquialbodydaily actions
How it's used
Cantonese distinguishes between wearing items on different parts of the body using specific verbs. 戴 is reserved for accessories like glasses, hats, watches, or jewelry, whereas 著 is used for clothing like shirts or pants. Using 著 for glasses is a common error that sounds unnatural to native speakers.
Examples
When did you start wearing glasses?
Related words
Common phrases
put glasses back on
wearing glasses (currently)
Common mistake
Do not confuse 戴 with 帶. 戴 refers to wearing an accessory, while 帶 means to bring or carry something along with you.
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.
