tam3０氹
Jyutpingtam3
Yaletam
Definition
To coax, cajole, or make someone happy through sweet words or actions.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Focuses on the emotional effort put into making someone feel better or getting them to do something through sweet talk. It is frequently used in the context of soothing children or romantic partners. The word implies a sense of warmth and patience rather than manipulation or deceit.
Related words
Common phrases
to make someone happy by coaxing
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the verb 呃, which means to deceive or trick someone. While 氹 can involve some level of persuasion, it is generally positive or neutral in intent, whereas 呃 is inherently negative.
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.
