jam2 zo2 mun4 gun1 caa4飲咗門官茶饮咗门官茶
Jyutpingjam2 zo2 mun4 gun1 caa4
Yaleyám jó mùhn gūn chàh
Definition
To be grinning or smiling all the time.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
This expression refers to the wide, fixed smile of the door god, or 門官, found at the entrance of traditional buildings. It is used exclusively to describe someone who cannot stop smiling or looks unusually pleased with themselves. It often implies a slightly mischievous or self-satisfied tone rather than just genuine joy.
Examples
He is grinning from ear to ear today.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply happy or laughing; it specifically targets the visual appearance of a persistent, wide grin. It is also not a literal description of drinking tea.
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.
