dung1 min4冬眠
Jyutpingdung1 min4
Yaledūng mìhn
Definition
To hibernate, or figuratively, to have a long sleep.
- to hibernate; to minimize bodily activity to survive the winter
- figurativeto have a long and deep sleep
colloquialanimalsdaily actions
How it's used
Beyond the biological sense, this term is frequently used as a humorous exaggeration for staying in bed for an extended period or being completely inactive. It carries a slightly playful tone when applied to humans, implying a desire to escape the cold or avoid social obligations. It is common to add the particle 下 after the verb to soften the tone, suggesting a casual or temporary state of rest.
Examples
The weather is so cold, I really want to hibernate and not go to work.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 瞓覺, which is the standard term for sleeping. Using 冬眠 for a normal night of sleep sounds unnatural and overly dramatic, as it specifically implies a long, deep, or extended period of withdrawal from activity.
Grammar color guide
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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.
