man1 fan3蚊瞓
Jyutpingman1 fan3
Yalemān fan
Definition
Too late.
colloquialtimeother
How it's used
Evokes the imagery of mosquitoes finally settling down to sleep, implying that the time for action has long passed. It is used exclusively to describe situations where someone is late or a deadline has been missed. The tone is often impatient or resigned, highlighting the futility of waiting any longer.
Examples
You are only leaving now, it will be way too late by the time you arrive.
I waited until it was way too late and he still didn't show up, it is so frustrating.
Related words
Common phrases
to wait until it is too late
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with literal mosquito behavior, as it is strictly an idiomatic expression for being late. It is not used to describe the actual time of night when insects sleep.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
