ngaau5 wan4咬雲咬云
Jyutpingngaau5 wan4
Yalengáauh wàhn
Definition
To smoke opium.
slangother
How it's used
This is a highly specific, dated slang term that refers exclusively to the historical practice of smoking opium. It is almost never used in modern conversation except when discussing history, period dramas, or older generations. The imagery of biting clouds reflects the hazy, dreamlike state associated with the drug.
Examples
I heard he really liked smoking opium back in the day.
Back then, who would actually go and smoke opium?
Related words
Common phrases
an opium smoker
Common mistake
Do not use this term to describe modern smoking habits like cigarettes or vaping, as it is strictly reserved for opium and carries a strong historical connotation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
