kai2 ngaan4啟顏启颜
Jyutpingkai2 ngaan4
Yalekái ngàahn
Definition
To say something funny to make someone smile or laugh.
writtenemotioncommunication
How it's used
This term is quite literary and formal, often appearing in written descriptions or storytelling rather than casual daily conversation. While it specifically describes the act of causing someone to smile or laugh, it carries a slightly elegant or old-fashioned nuance that is rarely heard in modern street-level Cantonese. Most speakers would simply use 氹人笑 or 講笑話 to convey the same meaning in everyday life.
Examples
He told jokes to make us laugh, and everyone was cracking up.
Do you really need to try so hard to make people laugh?
Related words
Common phrases
to smile upon hearing something funny
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common verb, but it is rarely used in spoken Cantonese. Using it in a casual setting might make you sound like you are reciting a classical text or trying to be overly poetic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
