zaa3 nyun5 waan4 hon4乍暖還寒乍暖还寒
Definition
Of weather, especially in early spring, fluctuating between warm and cold.
How it's used
This idiom is primarily used to describe the unpredictable weather during the transition from late winter to early spring. It carries a slightly literary or poetic tone, making it common in news reports or formal conversation, but it is also frequently used in daily life to warn others about the risk of catching a cold. Unlike simple descriptions of temperature, it emphasizes the repetitive, back and forth nature of the climate shift.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for any unstable weather, but it is specifically tied to the seasonal transition between winter and spring. Using it to describe a random cold front in the middle of summer would sound unnatural.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
