ngo4 hang4 aap3 bou6鵝行鴨步鹅行鸭步
Jyutpingngo4 hang4 aap3 bou6
Yalengòh hàhng aap bouh
Definition
To walk slowly and wobbly like geese or ducks.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
This idiom describes a clumsy or unsteady walking style, often implying someone is taking very small, awkward steps. It is frequently used to tease someone who is moving too slowly or struggling to keep their balance. While it literally references geese and ducks, it is applied exclusively to humans in a descriptive or humorous context.
Examples
His foot is injured, so he walks with a wobbly, duck-like gait.
Why are you waddling along so slowly? Walk faster!
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a graceful or elegant walk, as it carries a strong connotation of awkwardness or inefficiency. It is also not used for animals, despite the literal meaning.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
