ngaan5 zaam2 zaam2眼斬斬眼斩斩
Jyutpingngaan5 zaam2 zaam2
Yalengáahn jáam jáam
Definition
Blinking, staring, or looking on helplessly, often with eyes wide open.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
This reduplicated adjective describes the repetitive, often rapid movement of blinking. It frequently implies a sense of nervousness, confusion, or being caught off guard, rather than just the physiological act of blinking. It is distinctly descriptive and adds a vivid, slightly playful tone to a sentence.
Examples
He keeps blinking his eyes, he looks very nervous.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe the act of blinking in a medical or neutral context, as it carries a strong connotation of emotional state or social awkwardness. Use the verb 眨眼 instead for the neutral, physical action.
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.
