gu3 paan3顧盼顾盼
Jyutpinggu3 paan3
Yalegu paan
Definition
To look around or look back and forth.
writtendaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Literary in nature, this term is rarely used in casual daily speech. It carries a sense of elegance or deliberate observation that distinguishes it from the common verb 望. When used in modern contexts, it often implies a sense of hesitation or scanning one's surroundings with a specific purpose.
Examples
He is looking around, as if he is searching for someone.
Don't look around, focus on the road.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Avoid using this in everyday conversation as it sounds overly formal or poetic. Most native speakers will use 望下 or 周圍望 instead to convey the same action.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
