fong3 zi2 jiu2放紙鷂放纸鹞
Jyutpingfong3 zi2 jiu2
Yalefong jí yíu
Definition
To fly a kite.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning, this phrase is frequently used as a metaphor for standing someone up or breaking a promise. If you tell a friend you will meet them but never show up, they might accuse you of 放紙鷂. It captures the image of a kite drifting away and disappearing from sight.
Examples
The weather is so nice today, let's go fly a kite together.
Have you ever tried flying a kite in the park when you were little?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal act of flying a kite when someone is complaining about you being unreliable. If a friend says you 放佢紙鷂, they are definitely not talking about a hobby.
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.
