man4 ngaa5文雅
Jyutpingman4 ngaa5
Yalemàhn ngáh
Definition
Refined, elegant, cultured, and gentle in manner or speech.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Refinement is often described using this term when someone exhibits a gentle, polite, or sophisticated demeanor in their speech or behavior. It is frequently used to contrast with crude or blunt language, serving as a polite request for someone to soften their tone. While it implies a high level of social grace, it is still commonly used in everyday conversation to describe someone who carries themselves with quiet dignity.
Examples
They speak in a very refined way, it is pleasant to listen to.
Could you please say that in a more refined way?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical objects or fashion styles, as it is primarily reserved for human behavior, manners, and speech. For clothing or aesthetic beauty, terms like 靚 or 優雅 are more appropriate.
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.
