saan1跚
Jyutpingsaan1
Yalesāan
Definition
To limp or walk with difficulty.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
While 跚 is used to describe a limping gait, it is almost exclusively used in the reduplicated form 跚一跚 or as part of the phrase 趷跚. It carries a slightly more descriptive or literary feel compared to the more common colloquial way of describing a limp, which is simply saying someone is 跛 or 趷吓趷吓.
Examples
His leg is injured, so he limps when he walks.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 趷, which is the more common verb for hopping or walking with an uneven gait. Using 跚 alone as a verb without the reduplication or the accompanying descriptive particles can sound unnatural to native speakers.
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.
