ngaan5 daai6 daai6眼大大
Jyutpingngaan5 daai6 daai6
Yalengáahn daaih daaih
Definition
Having big, wide-open, or staring eyes.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
This is a descriptive compound adjective used specifically to highlight the cuteness or attractiveness of someone's eyes. It follows the AAB pattern common in Cantonese, where the first character is repeated to intensify the quality. It is almost exclusively used for people, particularly children or young women, to convey a sense of endearment.
Examples
That girl has big eyes, she is so cute.
Do you like girls with big eyes?
Related words
Common phrases
a big-eyed look
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe inanimate objects or animals, as it sounds unnatural and overly anthropomorphic. It is strictly for human physical appearance.
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.
