ngaai4 jin1崖广
Jyutpingngaai4 jin1
Yalengàaih yīn
Definition
A house built on a cliff; by extension, a very dangerous situation.
- a house built on a cliff
- figurativea very dangerous situation
colloquialplacesdescriptions
How it's used
This term is a highly specific, somewhat literary or descriptive way to characterize a precarious situation or location. It is rarely used to describe actual architecture in modern urban Hong Kong, but rather functions as a vivid metaphor for being in a vulnerable or perilous position. It carries a sense of impending danger or instability that goes beyond simple adjectives like 危險.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with literal architectural terms, but it is primarily used figuratively to describe a state of being at high risk. Do not use it to describe a standard balcony or a high floor in a building, as it implies a sense of extreme, life-threatening exposure.
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.
