hau4 kam4猴擒
Jyutpinghau4 kam4
Yalehàuh kàhm
Definition
Impatient, anxious, or in a rush to do something.
colloquialdescriptionsemotion
How it's used
Evokes the image of a monkey snatching food, capturing a sense of unrefined, animalistic eagerness. It is frequently used to describe someone who is overly aggressive or desperate in pursuing a goal, whether it is food, a bargain, or a romantic interest. The term carries a slightly mocking tone, suggesting that the person has lost their composure.
Examples
Why are you so impatient? Eat slowly.
Related words
Common phrases
in an impatient manner
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply efficient or fast at work. It specifically implies a lack of manners or a loss of self control due to extreme impatience.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
