jan2 jyu6隱喻隐喻
Jyutpingjan2 jyu6
Yaleyán yuh
Definition
Metaphor; using the similarities between two things to make an indirect suggestion.
writtencommunicationother
How it's used
Literary and academic contexts are where this term primarily lives. While native speakers understand the concept, they often use plain descriptions like 借喻 or 譬喻 in casual conversation to explain that one thing represents another.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
This sentence is a metaphor, do you understand?
He likes using metaphors to express his thoughts.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in everyday casual chat as it sounds overly formal or academic. If you want to say something is a metaphor for something else, it is more natural to say 呢樣嘢代表嗰樣嘢.
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.
