ngan3 gou1䟴高

Jyutpingngan3 gou1

Yalengan gōu

Definition

To stand on tiptoe.

colloquialbodydaily actions

How it's used

This verb is specifically used for the physical action of raising one's heels to gain height. It is often paired with 腳 to clarify the body part involved, though 䟴高 alone is perfectly understood in context. It carries a sense of effort or reaching for something just out of range.

Examples

keoi5佢䟴ngan3高gou1腳goek3睇tai2下haa6出ceot1面min6有jau5咩me1人。

He stood on tiptoe to see who was outside.

nei5你sai2使m4唔sai2使䟴ngan3高gou1嚟lai4攞lo2嗰go2樣joeng6嘢je5呀？

Do you need to stand on tiptoe to reach that thing?

Common phrases

䟴ngan3高gou1腳

to stand on tiptoe

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 企, which simply means to stand. Remember that 䟴高 implies the specific movement of lifting the heels, whereas 企 is a stationary state.