maan6 maan2慢慢
Jyutpingmaan6 maan2
Yalemaahn máan
Definition
Slowly; at a low speed or leisure pace.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Doubling the character is a classic way to turn an adjective or adverb into a more descriptive, rhythmic expression in Cantonese. It often carries a gentle or encouraging tone, especially when used to tell someone to take their time or relax. You will frequently hear it paired with imperatives to soften the command.
Examples
Eat slowly, there is no need to rush.
Let's walk over there slowly.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to mean 'late' or 'delayed' as learners sometimes confuse it with words like 遲. It specifically describes the pace of an action, not the timing of an event.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
