jan2 zeon3 bat1 gam3忍俊不禁
Jyutpingjan2 zeon3 bat1 gam3
Yaleyán jeun bāt gam
Definition
Cannot help laughing; unable to restrain a smile.
writtenemotiondescriptions
How it's used
This is a literary idiom that sounds quite formal or even slightly poetic when used in spoken Cantonese. While it is perfectly understood, native speakers often opt for the more direct and casual 忍唔住笑 in everyday conversation. Using it in a casual setting can sometimes make the speaker sound like they are trying to be humorous or overly dramatic.
Examples
He looks so funny, it really makes me unable to hold back my laughter.
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common everyday phrase, but it is technically a written idiom. It is rarely used in casual texting or quick speech unless the speaker is intentionally being flowery or sarcastic.
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
