maang5 lik6猛力
Jyutpingmaang5 lik6
Yalemáahng lihk
Definition
Vigorously or with sudden great force.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the suddenness or intensity of an action rather than just sustained strength. It often implies a single, sharp burst of energy, making it common in descriptions of physical impacts or abrupt movements. While it can be used for abstract concepts, it is most naturally applied to tangible physical interactions.
Examples
He pushed the door open with great force and rushed in.
Related words
Common phrases
a powerful, sudden strike
to yank or pull violently
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 大力, which is a more general term for using a lot of strength. Use 猛力 when the action is sudden, sharp, or aggressive, whereas 大力 is neutral and can describe a continuous, steady effort.
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.
