kok3 mun4搉門搉门
Jyutpingkok3 mun4
Yalekok mùhn
Definition
To knock on the door.
colloquialdaily actionshome
How it's used
This term is the standard colloquial way to describe the action of knocking on a door in Hong Kong. While Mandarin speakers typically use 敲門, Cantonese speakers use 搉門 to convey the same physical action. It is frequently used with the progressive aspect marker 緊 to describe the ongoing sound of someone knocking.
Examples
Why are you knocking on the door so loudly?
Related words
Common phrases
the sound of knocking on the door
to knock on the door hard
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 敲門 because it is the standard written form, but it sounds unnatural in spoken Cantonese. Stick to 搉門 for everyday conversation to sound more authentic.
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.
