san1 jam4呻吟
Jyutpingsan1 jam4
Yalesān yàhm
Definition
To groan or moan due to pain, sorrow, or sexual pleasure.
- to groan or moan due to pain or sorrow
- to moan from sexual pleasure
neutralbodyhealth
How it's used
Primarily describes involuntary sounds made due to physical pain or extreme emotional distress. While it can refer to sexual moaning, using it in that context is quite explicit and carries a strong, direct connotation. It is rarely used to describe casual complaining, for which words like 投訴 or 埋怨 are more appropriate.
Examples
He is groaning in pain, he seems to be suffering a lot.
Why are you moaning? Are you feeling unwell?
Related words
Common phrases
groaning in pain
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 呻, which is a colloquial term for venting or complaining about one's life or problems. 呻吟 implies a physical or visceral sound, whereas 呻 is purely verbal venting.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
