lyun1 gung1 haa1 mai5攣弓蝦米挛弓虾米
Jyutpinglyun1 gung1 haa1 mai5
Yalelyūn gūng hā máih
Definition
Curved, curled, or hunched up like a cooked shrimp.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
This idiom vividly captures the posture of someone hunched over or curled up, drawing a direct comparison to the shape of a cooked prawn. It is frequently used to describe someone sleeping in a fetal position or someone suffering from stomach pain who is doubling over. The imagery is so iconic that it is often used humorously to describe poor posture at a desk.
Examples
He likes to sleep curled up like a prawn.
Why are you sitting there all hunched over?
Related words
Common phrases
sleeping in a fetal position
sitting hunched over
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
