faan3娩
Jyutpingfaan3
Yalefaan
Definition
To give birth; to bear a child.
writtenfamilyhealth
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used in the formal compound 分娩. It is rarely encountered in isolation in spoken Cantonese, where people prefer using 生仔 or 生小朋友. It appears most frequently in medical reports, hospital signage, or formal discussions regarding childbirth.
Examples
She gave birth smoothly this morning.
Did the doctor say she is ready to give birth?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this character in casual conversation as it sounds overly clinical or literary. Stick to 生仔 for everyday speech.
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.
