wan3 haak1 fong2韞黑房韫黑房
Jyutpingwan3 haak1 fong2
Yalewan hāak fóng
Definition
To lock someone up in a dark room; to hold someone in solitary confinement.
colloquialfamilydaily actions
How it's used
Refers specifically to the act of confining someone, often a child, in a dark or windowless space like a storage room or closet as a form of discipline. It carries a slightly dramatic or hyperbolic tone when used by parents to threaten mischievous children. While it sounds severe, it is frequently used in casual, non-literal contexts to describe being grounded or kept away from others.
Examples
He keeps making mistakes, so his mom locks him in the storage room as punishment.
Related words
Common phrases
to be locked in a dark room by someone
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the formal term for solitary confinement in a prison context, which is usually described using more clinical language. This term is primarily associated with domestic discipline or playful threats.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
