gin3 ngaa4 bat1 gin3 ngaan5見牙不見眼见牙不见眼
Jyutpinggin3 ngaa4 bat1 gin3 ngaan5
Yalegin ngàh bāt gin ngáahn
Definition
Smiling broadly or grinning with delight, showing one's teeth because of extreme happiness.
colloquialemotionbody
How it's used
This idiom vividly describes a state of extreme happiness where the eyes crinkle and close up due to a wide, genuine smile. It is used exclusively to describe a positive, infectious expression of joy rather than a forced or polite grin. You will often hear it used to describe children or someone receiving good news.
Examples
He was beaming with joy the moment he saw the gift.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply laughing or smiling normally, as it specifically implies a level of happiness that makes the eyes disappear. It is not used for sarcastic or mocking laughter.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
