gang2鯁鲠
Jyutpinggang2
Yalegáng
Definition
To have a fish bone stuck in the throat, to take the blame, or to be blunt and unyielding.
- to have a bone, particularly a fish bone, stuck in one's throat
- slangto take the blame; to bear responsibility for someone else's mistake
- blunt; unyielding; upright and straightforward
colloquialfoodbody
How it's used
The primary physical meaning refers to the sharp pain of a fish bone lodged in the throat, which is a common hazard in Cantonese cuisine. Metaphorically, it describes someone who is stubbornly honest or refuses to compromise, often to their own detriment. In slang, it can also imply being forced to accept an unfair situation or blame, similar to swallowing a bitter pill.
Examples
Be careful when eating fish, don't get a bone stuck in your throat.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse the physical sensation of having a bone stuck, which is often expressed as 鯁親, with the metaphorical sense of being upright or stubborn. Using 鯁 to describe a person's character is less common than using it for the physical choking sensation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
