zan6 zan6陣陣阵阵
Jyutpingzan6 zan6
Yalejahn jahn
Definition
Succeeding waves or gusts of something; coming in successive spells or bursts.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the rhythmic or recurring nature of sensory experiences like smells, sounds, or feelings. It implies that the phenomenon comes and goes rather than being a constant, steady stream. It is most frequently used with nouns that describe something intangible or atmospheric.
Examples
Waves of floral scent are drifting into the house.
Have you heard the intermittent sound of the waves yet?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 陣間, which refers to a short period of time later. Using 陣陣 to describe a duration of time is grammatically incorrect.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
