hon4 laang5寒冷
Jyutpinghon4 laang5
Yalehòhn láahng
Definition
Very cold weather or climate.
neutralweather
How it's used
Describes weather conditions that are significantly lower than comfortable temperatures, often implying a sense of harshness or biting chill. While it functions as a formal adjective, it is frequently used in weather reports or when emphasizing a severe drop in temperature compared to the usual mild climate of Hong Kong. For everyday casual conversation about feeling cold, speakers typically prefer using 凍.
Examples
The weather is very cold tonight, remember to put on another layer.
Do you feel it has been cold these past few days?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use this to describe feeling cold themselves, but it is strictly for environmental conditions. To express personal discomfort due to low temperature, use 凍 instead.
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.
