zin2 zyun2輾轉辗转
Jyutpingzin2 zyun2
Yalejín jyún
Definition
To toss and turn; to roll back and forth on a flat surface while lying down.
colloquialdaily actionshealth
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the physical act of shifting one's body while lying down, often due to anxiety or discomfort. While the four character idiom 輾轉反側 is common in literature, the two character form is perfectly natural in spoken Cantonese to describe the restless movement itself.
Examples
I tossed and turned all night long and couldn't fall asleep.
Related words
Common phrases
tossing and turning in bed
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can metaphorically mean to go through many hands or experience many changes. In Cantonese, it is almost exclusively used to describe physical restlessness in bed.
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.
