lak1竻
Jyutpinglak1
Yalelāk
Definition
Irritating, painful, or uncomfortable in the eyes or throat due to a foreign object or inflammation.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
This word specifically describes the sharp, localized discomfort caused by a foreign object like dust or a hair, or the scratchy sensation of an inflamed throat. It is rarely used for abstract or emotional irritation, which would typically be described as 煩 or 唔舒服. The sensation is physical and usually implies a need to rub or clear the affected area.
Examples
My throat feels very irritated, are you catching a cold?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 痕, which means itchy. While 竻 implies a sharp, pricking, or scratchy discomfort, 痕 refers to the urge to scratch skin due to an itch.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
