fu2 gwaa1 gon1 gam2 hau2 min6苦瓜乾噉口面苦瓜干啖口面
Jyutpingfu2 gwaa1 gon1 gam2 hau2 min6
Yalefú gwā gōn gám háu mihn
Definition
To pull a long face; to look miserable, worried, or deeply unhappy.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
This idiom vividly captures the facial expression of someone who is unhappy or sulking by comparing it to the shriveled, bitter appearance of a dried bitter melon. It is used exclusively to describe someone's current mood or habitual expression rather than a physical condition. The phrase is highly expressive and carries a slightly mocking tone, suggesting that the person's misery is visible and perhaps a bit dramatic.
Examples
Why are you pulling such a long face?
keoi5佢seng4成jat6日dou1都fu2苦gwaa1瓜gon1乾gam2噉hau2口min6面，hou2好ci5似cyun4全sai3世gaai3界dou1都him3欠keoi5佢gam3咁。
He always looks so miserable, as if the whole world owes him something.
Related words
Common phrases
always looking miserable
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is physically ill or suffering from a medical condition. It specifically refers to an emotional state or a grumpy attitude, not physical pain.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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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.
