pung3碰
Jyutpingpung3
Yalepung
Definition
To bump, collide, or touch; to run into or encounter someone.
- to touch; to bump; to make physical contact
- to meet; to run into; to encounter
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
While 碰 is used for physical contact, it often implies a lighter or more accidental touch compared to 撞, which can suggest a more forceful collision. In many everyday contexts, speakers prefer 撞 because it feels more natural and versatile for describing both physical impacts and unexpected encounters. Use 碰 when you want to emphasize the act of touching or grazing something, especially if it results in something being knocked over.
Examples
I accidentally knocked over the cup just now.
Be careful when you walk, don't bump into people.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 碰 with 撞. While they overlap, 撞 is the default choice for most physical collisions, whereas 碰 is more specific to light contact or grazing an object.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
