leng1愣
Jyutpingleng1
Yalelēng
Definition
Simpleton, silly person, or fool.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Used to describe someone who is slow to react, absent-minded, or acting in a dazed manner. It carries a slightly derogatory tone, implying the person is not quite sharp or is currently being oblivious to their surroundings. It is frequently used to describe a state of being stunned or blanking out in a social situation.
Examples
He is always such a simpleton, I really can't do anything about him.
Related words
Common phrases
acting in a dazed or foolish manner
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can mean to be stunned or to stare blankly. In Cantonese, it is more commonly used as an adjective to describe a person's general lack of wit or a temporary state of being dazed.
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.
