ngaan5 leoi6眼淚眼泪
Jyutpingngaan5 leoi6
Yalengáahn leuih
Definition
Tears; the liquid secreted by the lacrimal glands to lubricate the eyes or when emotional.
neutralbodyemotion
How it's used
While眼淚 is the standard noun for tears, it is often omitted in casual speech when using the verb喊. You will frequently hear people say喊到眼腫 instead of using the full noun, as the action of crying implies the presence of tears. When describing the physical act of tears falling, speakers often use the verb流.
Measure word
dik6滴dikhExamples
She shed many tears after watching the movie.
Why are you shedding tears? Are you unhappy?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use the Mandarin verb哭 to describe crying, but in Cantonese, the standard colloquial verb is喊. Using哭 sounds overly formal or literary in daily conversation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
