jin4燃
Jyutpingjin4
Yaleyìhn
Definition
To burn, ignite, or light.
writtendaily actionsother
How it's used
燃 is primarily a formal or literary morpheme that rarely stands alone in spoken Cantonese. It is almost exclusively found in compound words like 燃燒 or 燃點. When describing the act of lighting something in daily life, speakers prefer using 著 or 點.
Examples
He lit the candle.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 燃 as a standalone verb in casual conversation. While it is understood, it sounds overly formal or poetic, similar to using 'ignite' instead of 'light' in English.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
