fan1 fei1紛飛纷飞
Jyutpingfan1 fei1
Yalefān fēi
Definition
To flutter and fly about in a scattered manner.
writtennaturedescriptions
How it's used
Used primarily in literary or descriptive contexts to paint a vivid picture of objects scattered in the air. It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation to describe literal flying, as it carries a poetic or dramatic weight. You will most commonly encounter it in written descriptions of snow, petals, or dust.
Examples
I often see snow fluttering about during winter.
The flower petals are fluttering about, the scene is beautiful.
Related words
Common phrases
snow fluttering about
petals fluttering about
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe birds or insects flying, as it specifically implies a scattered, chaotic, or light drifting motion rather than purposeful flight.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
