pan4顰颦
Jyutpingpan4
Yalepàhn
Definition
To frown or knit one's brows.
writtenbodydescriptions
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used in formal or literary contexts, particularly within the idiom 東施效顰. In everyday spoken Cantonese, people use 皺眉頭 instead of using this character as a verb. It carries a sense of literary elegance that sounds out of place in casual conversation.
Examples
He frowned as soon as he saw the homework.
Related words
Common phrases
to mimic someone blindly and end up looking ridiculous
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common verb, but it is rarely used in isolation outside of written Chinese or fixed idioms. Using it in casual speech will sound unnatural or overly dramatic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
