tang4 wan4 gaa3 mou6騰雲駕霧腾云驾雾
Jyutpingtang4 wan4 gaa3 mou6
Yaletàhng wàhn ga mouh
Definition
To fly above the clouds; to ride on the clouds and mist.
colloquialdescriptionsother
How it's used
Originally describing mythical beings flying through the sky, this idiom is now frequently used metaphorically to describe a state of dizziness, intoxication, or being completely detached from reality. It captures the sensation of having one's head in the clouds or feeling lightheaded due to illness or exhaustion. It is rarely used in its literal sense in modern daily life.
Examples
After he got drunk, he felt like he was floating on clouds.
Are you so absorbed in that novel that you feel like you're in a fantasy world?
Related words
Common phrases
to feel like one is floating on air
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe actual travel or transportation. It is strictly for describing a mental state or a surreal, dreamlike feeling.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
