ngaa4 tung3 gam2 seng1牙痛咁聲牙痛咁声
Definition
To moan, groan, or complain endlessly, like someone suffering from a toothache.
How it's used
This expression vividly captures the sound of someone whining or complaining incessantly, often implying that the listener finds the behavior irritating or performative. It is frequently used to describe someone who is not necessarily in physical pain but is expressing dissatisfaction in a way that feels drawn out or exaggerated. The imagery of a toothache is used because such pain is notoriously persistent and difficult to ignore.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe actual physical pain, as it is strictly used to criticize someone's complaining attitude or whiny tone. Using it to describe a person who is genuinely suffering from a toothache would be seen as insensitive or mocking.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
