seoi6 ngaan5 sing1 sung1睡眼惺忪
Jyutpingseoi6 ngaan5 sing1 sung1
Yaleseuih ngáahn sīng sūng
Definition
Sleepy-eyed; very sleepy or half-awake.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
This is a formal idiom that describes a state of being groggy or half awake. While it is a four character phrase, it is frequently used in casual speech to describe someone who has just rolled out of bed or is struggling to stay alert. It carries a slightly descriptive, almost literary flair compared to the plain spoken term 眼瞓.
Examples
He has been looking sleepy all morning, as if he hasn't woken up yet.
Why do you look so sleepy? Did you not sleep last night?
Related words
Common phrases
looking sleepy
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a verb meaning to sleep, but it is strictly an adjective used to describe the appearance of someone who is tired. You cannot say someone is doing this action, only that they look this way.
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.
