mei4 hoi1 ngaan5 siu3眉開眼笑眉开眼笑
Jyutpingmei4 hoi1 ngaan5 siu3
Yalemèih hōi ngáahn siu
Definition
To beam with joy; to look extremely happy and cheerful.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
This idiom describes a visible, radiant expression of happiness that lights up the entire face. It is often used to describe someone who is visibly delighted by good news or a pleasant surprise. Unlike generic words for happy, this specifically emphasizes the physical manifestation of joy through the eyes and eyebrows.
Examples
He was beaming with joy as soon as he saw the gift.
Why are you looking so happy and cheerful today?
Related words
Common phrases
to beam with joy upon seeing something
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe someone who is just feeling content or satisfied internally, as it strictly refers to an outward, noticeable display of cheerfulness.
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.
