waat6 tan4 tan4滑揗揗

Jyutpingwaat6 tan4 tan4

Yalewaaht tàhn tàhn

形容詞

Definition

Slippery, oily, or greasy.

colloquialfoodbody

How it's used

This reduplicated adjective captures a specific tactile sensation of something being both slick and coated in a layer of oil or grease. It is most commonly used for kitchenware that has not been cleaned properly or skin that is overly oily. The repetition of the final syllable adds an emphatic, slightly negative tone, suggesting the greasiness is unpleasant or excessive.

Examples

zek3隻wun2碗sai2洗gik6極dou1都zung6仲hai6係waat6滑tan4揗tan4揗。

The bowl is still greasy no matter how much I wash it.

nei5你faai3塊min6面waat6滑tan4揗tan4揗，hai6係mai6咪caa4搽zo2咗taai2太do1多wu6護fu1膚ban2品aa4呀？

Your face is all greasy, did you put on too much skincare?

Common phrases

sai2洗dak1得waat6滑tan4揗tan4揗

washed until still greasy

min6面bou6部waat6滑tan4揗tan4揗

face is greasy

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 滑捋捋, which describes something that is smooth and slippery to the touch, like silk or a polished surface, but without the connotation of being oily or dirty.