hau4 gon1 geng2 kok3喉乾頸涸喉干颈涸
Jyutpinghau4 gon1 geng2 kok3
Yalehàuh gōn géng kok
Definition
Dry throat, or feeling extremely thirsty.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
This four character idiom is the standard way to describe extreme thirst in spoken Cantonese. It carries a sense of physical discomfort and is often used to justify needing a drink immediately. Unlike formal expressions for thirst, it feels very natural and descriptive in casual conversation.
Examples
I've been hiking all day, my throat is so dry.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with just being hungry or tired, as it specifically focuses on the sensation of dryness in the throat and neck area. It is an idiomatic expression and should not be broken apart or rearranged.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
