faan1拚
Jyutpingfaan1
Yalefāan
Definition
To fly.
colloquialanimalsdaily actions
How it's used
Primarily used in colloquial Cantonese to describe the rapid, sudden movement of birds or insects taking flight. It carries a sense of abruptness or speed that the standard word 飛 lacks. It is almost exclusively reserved for small creatures rather than airplanes or large objects.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the written Chinese character 拼 which is used in terms like 拼命 or 拼圖. In spoken Cantonese, 拚 is specifically for the action of flying or darting away.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
