daai6 wong4 ngaan5大王眼
Jyutpingdaai6 wong4 ngaan5
Yaledaaih wòhng ngáahn
Definition
Greedy
colloquialdescriptionsemotion
How it's used
Refers specifically to a covetous or gluttonous look, often used when someone eyes food or possessions belonging to others. It paints a vivid picture of someone whose eyes are literally 'too big' for their own good, implying a lack of restraint. While it can describe a person's general character, it is most frequently used to call out someone's immediate, visible greed in a specific situation.
Examples
Why are you staring greedily at someone else's meal?
Related words
Common phrases
very greedy
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply having large eyes, which would be described as眼大. This term is strictly negative and implies a character flaw or a greedy intent.
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.
