ngaam4 ngaam4 caam4 caam4岩岩巉巉
Jyutpingngaam4 ngaam4 caam4 caam4
Yalengàahm ngàahm chàahm chàahm
Definition
Uneven, rough, or jagged; not smooth, broken, irregular, or asymmetric.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Describes physical surfaces that are jagged or uneven, but it is also frequently used to describe a person's appearance or features that lack symmetry or refinement. It carries a slightly negative or critical connotation when applied to people, implying a lack of polish or attractiveness. The repetition of characters emphasizes the degree of irregularity.
Examples
This road is very uneven and difficult to walk on.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 巉, which is a literary word for steep mountains. While it shares the same character, the reduplicated form is specifically for describing rough textures or irregular shapes in everyday speech.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
