hap1 ngaan5翕眼
Jyutpinghap1 ngaan5
Yalehāp ngáahn
Definition
To blink or wink.
colloquialbodydaily actions
How it's used
Focuses on the physical action of closing the eyelids, often used to describe a very short duration of time. It is frequently paired with the particle 嗰陣 to indicate the moment the action occurs. Unlike the more formal 眨眼, this term feels more grounded in everyday speech.
Examples
It disappeared before you could even blink.
Related words
Common phrases
to blink once
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 瞌眼瞓, which specifically means to doze off or fall asleep, whereas 翕眼 is just the act of blinking.
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.
