ham4酣

Jyutpingham4

Yalehàhm

Definition

Intoxicated, carefree, or intense.

intoxicated; drunk
carefree; merry; sound (as in sleep)
intense; fully in the swing of things

writtendescriptionsdaily actions

How it's used

This character is primarily used in literary or formal contexts to describe a state of deep immersion or intensity, such as deep sleep or a lively conversation. It is rarely used in everyday spoken Cantonese to mean intoxicated, as words like 醉 are preferred for that purpose. When it does appear in speech, it often carries a slightly poetic or descriptive tone.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋jam2飲dou3到seng4成san1身zau2酒hei3氣，jam2飲dak1得hou2好ham4酣。

They are covered in the smell of alcohol and are drinking quite intensely.

daai6大gaa1家king1傾dak1得gam3咁ham4酣，bat1不jyu4如lau4留dai1低sik6食maai4埋faan6飯laa1啦。

Everyone is chatting so enthusiastically, why not stay for dinner too?

Common phrases

ham4酣seoi6睡

sound asleep

hearty and unconstrained

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 醉, but 酣 focuses on the intensity or the deep, carefree nature of an action rather than the physiological state of being drunk. Avoid using it as a direct synonym for being drunk in casual conversation.