hon4 can4寒塵寒尘
Jyutpinghon4 can4
Yalehòhn chàhn
Definition
Shabby and unpresentable in appearance or clothing.
colloquialclothingdescriptions
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the visual impression of being disheveled or poorly dressed, often implying a lack of resources or care. It carries a slightly judgmental tone, suggesting that the person's appearance is below the expected standard for a particular social setting. It is distinct from simply being casual, as it implies the clothing itself looks worn out or inappropriate.
Examples
You are dressed so shabbily, how can you go to the job interview?
He usually dresses very poorly, he doesn't look like a rich person.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 寒酸, which describes a stingy or petty attitude rather than just the physical state of one's clothing.
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.
