haak1 mi1 mang1黑瞇擝黑眯擝
Jyutpinghaak1 mi1 mang1
Yalehāak mī māng
Definition
Pitch-dark, murky, or lightless; also describing something with a lot of black coloring.
- pitch-dark; dim; having insufficient light to see clearly
- very black; containing mostly black coloring
colloquialdescriptionsother
How it's used
This reduplicative adjective emphasizes a state of total darkness, often implying a sense of gloominess or lack of visibility. It is frequently used to describe spaces like unlit rooms, dark alleys, or even the state of one's vision when suddenly deprived of light. The rhythm of the three-syllable structure adds a vivid, descriptive quality that simple words like 黑 lack.
Examples
It is pitch-dark inside, be careful when you walk.
Why is the room pitch-dark? Aren't you going to turn on the lights?
Related words
Common phrases
a pitch-dark environment
pitch-black all over
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the standard adjective 黑, which is neutral. 黑瞇擝 is specifically for environments where light is absent or obscured, and it cannot be used to describe the color black itself, such as a black shirt or black ink.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
