hou2 faan1好番
Jyutpinghou2 faan1
Yalehóu fāan
Definition
To recover from an illness.
colloquialhealth
How it's used
This verb is specifically used for recovering from an illness or injury. It combines the adjective 好 with the directional verb 番, which indicates a return to a previous state. It is the most natural way to ask if someone is feeling better after being unwell.
Examples
Have you taken your medicine? Have you recovered yet?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 變好, which usually refers to a situation or a person's behavior improving rather than physical health. Also, ensure you do not use it for inanimate objects like broken machines, as it is strictly for health contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
