pun4 saan1蹣跚蹒跚
Jyutpingpun4 saan1
Yalepùhn sāan
Definition
To walk with slow, halting, or unsteady steps; to limp or stagger.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
Describes a gait that is unsteady or slow, often due to injury, age, or exhaustion. While it implies an uneven rhythm, it is more formal than the colloquial phrase 趷下趷下, which is the standard way to describe a limp in daily speech. Use this term when you want to emphasize the lack of stability or the difficulty in maintaining balance.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
to walk with a faltering gait
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to describe a simple, minor limp, as it carries a slightly more descriptive or literary tone. In most casual situations, native speakers prefer the more descriptive verb phrase 趷下趷下.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
