taam4 gun3痰罐
Jyutpingtaam4 gun3
Yaletàahm gun
Definition
Spittoon; a vessel used for spitting into.
colloquialhomedaily actions
How it's used
Spittoons were once common household items in older Hong Kong apartments, but they are now rarely seen in modern homes. The term is often used metaphorically to describe someone who is treated as a receptacle for others' complaints or negative emotions.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Please bring the spittoon over here for me.
Related words
Common phrases
to spit
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with 尿壺, which is specifically for urine. Using the wrong term can be quite embarrassing in a domestic setting.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
