jin1 ngan6蔫韌蔫韧

Jyutpingjin1 ngan6

Yaleyīn ngahn

Definition

Tough and stringy food, or to describe a couple who are inseparable and affectionate.

(of food) tough; stringy; chewy
describing an inseparable, sweet, or intimate relationship between a couple

colloquialpeoplefood

How it's used

Applying this to relationships implies an almost inseparable, clingy, or sticky dynamic between two people. When used for food, it specifically describes textures that are tough, fibrous, or stringy, often resulting from overcooking or poor quality meat. The term carries a slightly negative or weary connotation when describing people, suggesting they are perhaps too attached to one another.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋loeng5兩go3個seng4成jat6日ci1黐maai4埋jat1一cai4齊，zan1真hai6係hou2好jin1蔫ngan6韌。

The two of them are always stuck together, they are really inseparable.

le1呢gau6嚿ngau4牛juk6肉zyu2煮dou3到hou2好jin1蔫ngan6韌，ngaau5咬gik6極dou1都ngaau5咬m4唔hoi1開。

This piece of beef is cooked until it's stringy, I can't chew through it no matter how hard I try.

Common phrases

jin1蔫ngan6韌ge3嘅gwaan1關hai6係

an inseparable relationship

juk6肉zat1質jin1蔫ngan6韌

the meat is tough and stringy

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 黐身, which specifically focuses on the act of being clingy or needy. 蔫韌 is more descriptive of the state of the relationship or the physical texture of food, rather than just the behavior of a person.