ngaan5 zing1眼睛
Jyutpingngaan5 zing1
Yalengáahn jīng
Definition
Eye; the organ of sight.
neutralbody
How it's used
While 眼睛 is understood in Cantonese, it is considered a formal or literary term primarily used in writing or when describing someone's features in a descriptive way. In everyday spoken Cantonese, people almost exclusively use 眼 to refer to the organ. Using 眼睛 in casual conversation can sound slightly poetic or overly dramatic.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Her eyes are very big, just like a doll's.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 眼睛 in daily speech where 眼 is more natural. Additionally, remember that the measure word for eyes is usually 隻 when referring to one, or 對 when referring to the pair.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
