gung1 bei6 laa2 lei6攻鼻揦脷
Jyutpinggung1 bei6 laa2 lei6
Yalegūng beih lá leih
Definition
Having a very strong, pungent smell and sharp, biting flavor.
colloquialfooddescriptions
How it's used
This phrase is a vivid, sensory-focused expression used to describe substances that physically overwhelm the senses. It is typically reserved for things that cause an immediate, involuntary reaction like sneezing, watering eyes, or a burning sensation on the tongue. It is most commonly applied to strong condiments like wasabi, raw garlic, or pungent cleaning chemicals.
Examples
This wasabi is really pungent and sharp.
Take a sniff, this smell is intensely irritating.
Related words
Common phrases
the taste is pungent and biting
the smell is sharp and irritating
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a bad smell that is merely unpleasant or foul, such as garbage or rot. It specifically requires the element of physical irritation or sharpness, rather than just a repulsive odor.
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.
