mei4 laan6糜爛糜烂
Jyutpingmei4 laan6
Yalemèih laahn
Definition
Dissipated, debauched, or overindulging in harmful sensual pleasures.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes a lifestyle characterized by excessive indulgence, moral decay, or a lack of discipline. It carries a strong negative judgment and is often used to criticize someone for wasting their youth or health on hedonistic activities. Unlike simple laziness, it implies a deeper sense of aimlessness and self-destruction.
Examples
He lives a dissipated life all the time, it is really decadent.
Related words
Common phrases
dissipated lifestyle
utterly dissipated and degenerate
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can sometimes refer to physical rotting or festering of a wound, as in Cantonese it is almost exclusively used to describe a person's lifestyle or moral conduct.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
