zeoi3 kyun4醉拳
Jyutpingzeoi3 kyun4
Yalejeui kyùhn
Definition
Drunken fist, a style of Chinese martial arts imitating the movements of a drunkard.
colloquialsportspeople
How it's used
Beyond the specific martial arts style, this term is frequently used metaphorically to describe someone staggering or moving unsteadily, often due to intoxication or extreme fatigue. It carries a strong cultural association with the classic film starring Jackie Chan, which popularized the style globally. When used in a non-martial arts context, it usually implies a humorous or clumsy physical state.
Examples
He performs the drunken fist so well it looks like he's actually drunk.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being drunk, which is 醉咗. Using 醉拳 to describe a drunk person is a metaphorical description of their movement, not a statement that they are intoxicated.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
