taan1 dung3攤凍摊冻
Jyutpingtaan1 dung3
Yaletāan dung
Definition
To leave food or drink to cool down, or figuratively, to wait until an issue cools down.
- to leave food or drink to cool down; to let something get less hot
- figurativeto wait until an issue or news event loses public attention
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the process of letting heat dissipate naturally by leaving food or drink in the open. While it literally refers to temperature, it is frequently used metaphorically to describe letting a tense situation or a controversial topic settle down until public interest fades. It implies a deliberate pause to avoid being impulsive or getting burned.
Examples
The congee is too hot, wait for it to cool down before eating.
Related words
Common phrases
let the soup cool down
let the matter settle down
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe putting something in the fridge to cool it down, as that would be 放入雪櫃. It specifically implies waiting for the item to reach room temperature on its own.
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.
