wun5 ji5莞爾莞尔
Jyutpingwun5 ji5
Yalewúhn yíh
Definition
To smile; to have a slight smile on one's face.
writtenemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Literary in nature, this term is rarely used in casual spoken Cantonese. It is almost exclusively found in written texts or formal storytelling to describe a subtle, gentle, or knowing smile. Using it in daily conversation will sound overly dramatic or archaic to native speakers.
Examples
She gave a slight smile after hearing the joke.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common verb like 笑, but it is a formal descriptive term. It is almost always paired with 一笑 to form the phrase 莞爾一笑, rather than being used as a standalone verb in a sentence.
Grammar color guide
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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.
