nang4 man4 nang4 mou5能文能武
Definition
Capable of both intellectual and physical pursuits; skilled in both scholarly and martial arts.
How it's used
Describes someone who possesses both intellectual prowess and physical capability, often implying a well-rounded talent. It is frequently used as a compliment for someone who excels in academic or professional tasks while also being highly competent in sports or manual skills. The phrase carries a slightly formal or literary weight despite being used in daily conversation to praise someone's versatility.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being good at two different hobbies; it specifically contrasts intellectual or artistic ability with physical or athletic performance. Using it to describe someone who is just good at two academic subjects sounds unnatural.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
