fei4 tan4 tan4肥腯腯
Jyutpingfei4 tan4 tan4
Yalefèih tàhn tàhn
Definition
Plump, chubby, and cute; used to describe babies, children, or animals.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the endearing, soft, and squishy quality of fatness rather than just the physical state. It is almost exclusively used for babies, young children, or cute animals, and carries a strong sense of affection. Using this to describe an adult would likely be perceived as rude or mocking, even if intended as a joke.
Examples
The cat is so chubby, it feels very comfortable to pet.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe adults, as it implies a childlike, rounded plumpness that is inappropriate for grown-ups. For adults, use 肥 or 肥嘟嘟 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
