jan1 mut6湮沒湮没
Jyutpingjan1 mut6
Yaleyān muht
Definition
To vanish and be forgotten, or to be buried and covered up.
writtendescriptionsother
How it's used
Focuses on the metaphorical loss of something abstract, like memories, talents, or historical events, rather than physical objects. It carries a sense of melancholy or inevitability, suggesting that the subject has been swallowed by time or neglect. While it sounds slightly more formal or literary than everyday speech, it is still frequently used in reflective or descriptive contexts.
Examples
Many old buildings have already vanished into the long river of history.
His talent was almost buried and forgotten in this dull job.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 淹沒, which refers to being physically covered or flooded by water. Using 湮沒 for a flooded street would be incorrect, as it implies a permanent loss of visibility or existence rather than a temporary state of being underwater.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
