tan1吞
Jyutpingtan1
Yaletān
Definition
To swallow or gulp down.
colloquialdaily actionsbody
How it's used
Beyond the literal act of swallowing food or medicine, this character frequently appears in figurative contexts related to suppression or hesitation. It is a key component in expressions describing someone who is unable or unwilling to speak their mind openly. The physical sensation of something being stuck in the throat is often used metaphorically to describe social or emotional blockage.
Examples
He swallowed the pill in one go.
Why are you hesitating and not speaking clearly?
Related words
Common phrases
to wolf down food
to be evasive or hesitant in speech
Common mistake
Do not confuse the literal action of swallowing with the metaphorical usage in 吞吞吐吐, which describes someone who is being evasive or stuttering, not someone who is literally eating.
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.
