heoi1 hon4 man6 nyun5噓寒問暖嘘寒问暖
Jyutpingheoi1 hon4 man6 nyun5
Yalehēui hòhn mahn nyúhn
Definition
To inquire solicitously about someone's well-being and show care for them.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
This idiom carries a slightly formal or literary weight despite being used in everyday speech. It often implies a deliberate, sometimes excessive or performative, display of concern. When used in a negative context, it can suggest that the person is being overly attentive for ulterior motives.
Examples
He is always asking after my well-being, as if he really cares about me.
Related words
Common phrases
a solicitous attitude
to show concern for someone
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple greeting like 你好嗎. It is much more specific and implies a sustained, caring effort to check on someone's physical comfort and emotional state, rather than a casual 'how are you'.
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.
