hau4 kam4喉擒
Jyutpinghau4 kam4
Yalehàuh kàhm
Definition
Anxious, impatient, and in a desperate rush to do something.
colloquialemotionfood
How it's used
Describes an intense, almost impatient hunger or desire for something, often implying a lack of composure. It is frequently used when someone is eager to eat, but it extends to any situation where someone is overly keen to get their hands on an object or opportunity. The term carries a slightly negative connotation of being unrefined or lacking patience.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being hungry, as it specifically emphasizes the impatient, frantic nature of the desire. It is not used to describe a long term ambition or a professional goal.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
