fong3 man1放蚊
Jyutpingfong3 man1
Yalefong mān
Definition
To yawn.
colloquialbodydaily actions
How it's used
Literally translating to releasing a mosquito, this idiom vividly captures the action of opening one's mouth wide to yawn. It is a playful and informal way to describe the involuntary act of yawning, often implying that the person is bored or tired. It is strictly colloquial and should be avoided in formal writing or professional settings.
Examples
Are you very sleepy? Why do you keep yawning?
He yawned during the meeting and got scolded by the boss.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal act of releasing mosquitoes, which would be nonsensical in most contexts. Learners sometimes mistakenly use it as a formal verb, but it is strictly a casual expression for yawning.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
