gon1 zang1 zang1乾噌噌干噌噌
Jyutpinggon1 zang1 zang1
Yalegōn jāng jāng
Definition
Dry, parched, or lacking moisture, especially of food or things that should be moist.
colloquialfoodbody
How it's used
This reduplicated adjective emphasizes an unpleasant lack of moisture in things that should ideally be supple or hydrated. It carries a slightly negative tone, implying that the item has lost its freshness or quality due to being left out or poorly prepared. While it is most commonly applied to food like bread or noodles, it is also frequently used to describe skin that feels tight and parched.
Examples
This bowl of noodles is too dry, it would be better if you added some soup.
Your face is feeling very dry, are you dehydrated?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe things that are meant to be dry, such as a dry towel or a dry floor. It is specifically reserved for items that have lost their necessary moisture, making them unpleasant to touch or eat.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
