fu2 gwaa1 gon1 gam2 joeng2苦瓜乾咁樣苦瓜干咁样
Jyutpingfu2 gwaa1 gon1 gam2 joeng2
Yalefú gwā gōn gám yéung
Definition
To pull a long face, having a miserable or scowling expression.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
This expression vividly captures the wrinkled, puckered appearance of a dried bitter melon to describe someone looking unhappy or sour. It is used almost exclusively to describe facial expressions rather than a general mood. You will frequently hear it used to tease friends who are sulking or looking unnecessarily grumpy about a situation.
Examples
Why do you always look so miserable?
He pulls a long face as soon as he hears he has to work overtime.
Related words
Common phrases
always looking miserable
with a face like a dried bitter melon
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is clinically depressed or suffering from a serious emotional crisis. It is a lighthearted, slightly mocking way to describe someone who is just being a bit of a killjoy or having a bad attitude.
Grammar color guide
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Adjective
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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.
