laan2 daai6 fong1讕大方谰大方
Jyutpinglaan2 daai6 fong1
Yaleláan daaih fōng
Definition
To pretend to be generous or magnanimous.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
The character 讕 carries a specific nuance of putting on a false front or acting in a way that contradicts one's actual situation. It is almost always used in a critical or mocking tone to describe someone who is trying to save face or impress others despite lacking the means to do so. It is distinct from simply being generous, as it implies a performative and insincere act.
Examples
He clearly has no money, yet he still pretends to be generous and treats everyone.
Don't pretend to be generous, let's just split the bill for the meal.
Related words
Common phrases
to pretend to be generous by treating others
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with simply being generous, but it is strictly negative. Using it to describe someone who is genuinely kind or wealthy will sound like a direct insult to their character.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
