mo4 ngaa4磨牙
Jyutpingmo4 ngaa4
Yalemòh ngàh
Definition
Bruxism; to grind one's teeth, usually unconsciously.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
Beyond the medical condition of bruxism, this term is frequently used to describe the annoying sound produced by the friction of teeth. It often implies a lack of control, as it typically happens unconsciously during sleep or due to extreme stress. People might also use it figuratively to describe someone who is being extremely persistent or nagging in a way that feels like they are grinding away at your patience.
Examples
He grinds his teeth whenever he sleeps, it is very loud.
Do you know why children grind their teeth?
Related words
Common phrases
grinding teeth while sleeping
the sound of teeth grinding
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the slang usage of 磨牙 where it can sometimes refer to idle chatter or gossiping, though the medical meaning is far more common in daily life.
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.
