pun2 laan2拚爛拚烂
Jyutpingpun2 laan2
Yalepún láan
Definition
To give up on oneself and act recklessly, writing oneself off as hopeless.
colloquialemotiondaily actions
How it's used
Describes a state of self-abandonment where someone stops caring about their future or personal standards. It often implies a sense of defeatism, where the person feels there is no point in trying anymore. The term carries a strong negative connotation of being self-destructive or lazy.
Examples
He lost his job recently and just gave up on himself, playing video games at home all day.
Don't write yourself off like that, pull yourself together.
Related words
Common phrases
completely given up on oneself
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with just being lazy, but it specifically carries the nuance of a psychological breakdown or a conscious decision to stop caring about one's life path.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- 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.
