ngaan5 taan2 taan2眼坦坦
Jyutpingngaan5 taan2 taan2
Yalengáahn táan táan
Definition
To look on helplessly, in despair, or with frustration.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Describes a specific state of being unable to intervene or change a negative situation. It captures the feeling of watching something go wrong while feeling completely powerless. It is often used when someone is forced to witness a loss or a failure without being able to stop it.
Examples
Seeing all the money gone, I really feel helpless and frustrated.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply staring or looking at something. It specifically implies a sense of helplessness or frustration, so it is inappropriate to use when you are merely looking at something with interest or neutrality.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
