taam4 soeng5 geng2痰上頸痰上颈
Jyutpingtaam4 soeng5 geng2
Yaletàahm séuhng géng
Definition
Sputum rising up, causing breathing difficulties; phlegm stuck in the throat.
colloquialhealthbody
How it's used
This expression vividly describes the sensation of phlegm accumulating in the throat to the point of obstructing breathing or speech. While it literally refers to a physical condition, it is often used hyperbolically to emphasize the severity of a respiratory illness or a bad cough. It carries a sense of urgency and distress that goes beyond a simple sore throat.
Examples
He is so sick with phlegm bubbling up that he finds it hard to speak.
Is your phlegm bubbling up? Why are you coughing so severely?
Related words
Common phrases
coughing until phlegm bubbles up
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a simple runny nose or minor congestion. It is specifically reserved for thick, obstructive phlegm that makes the person feel like they are choking.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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).
