han2啃
Jyutpinghan2
Yalehán
Definition
To choke on food; to have food stuck in one's throat.
colloquialfoodhealth
How it's used
Pronounced as gang2 in Cantonese, this verb specifically refers to the sensation of food getting stuck in the throat. It is most commonly used with fish bones, as in 鯁魚骨, but can apply to any food item that causes an obstruction. When someone is actively choking, you might hear people use the phrase 鯁親 to describe the state of having accidentally swallowed something the wrong way.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin word 啃, which means to gnaw or nibble. In Cantonese, the character 鯁 is the standard way to write this sound and meaning, while 啃 is rarely used in this context.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
