fan1 mai4昏迷
Jyutpingfan1 mai4
Yalefān màih
Definition
To be in a coma; to lose consciousness completely but remain alive.
neutralhealth
How it's used
Used primarily in medical contexts to describe a state of deep unconsciousness. While it functions as a verb, it is frequently paired with 咗 to indicate the onset or duration of the state. It carries a serious and clinical tone, distinct from simply being asleep or fainting.
Examples
He has been in a coma since the car accident and still hasn't woken up.
The doctor said his coma scale is very low, and his condition isn't very good.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 暈, which refers to a temporary loss of consciousness or fainting. 昏迷 implies a much more severe, prolonged, and often life-threatening condition.
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.
