naam4喃
Jyutpingnaam4
Yalenàahm
Definition
To mumble in repetition; to murmur.
colloquialcommunicationdaily actions
How it's used
Often used in the reduplicated form 喃喃 to describe the act of muttering or whispering continuously. It carries a slightly negative connotation, implying that the speaker is being repetitive, unclear, or complaining in a way that others find bothersome.
Examples
He is mumbling to himself, I don't know what he is saying.
Related words
Common phrases
muttering to oneself
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 呢喃, which is a more poetic or literary term used to describe soft, gentle whispering or the chirping of birds. When referring to annoying, repetitive muttering, stick to the colloquial 喃喃.
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.
