zyun2 san1轉身转身
Jyutpingzyun2 san1
Yalejyún sān
Definition
To turn one's body around, facing the opposite direction.
colloquialbodydaily actions
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the physical act of rotating the torso or changing the direction one is facing, rather than changing one's life path or opinion. It is often used in narratives to describe a sudden shift in attention or a reaction to something happening behind the speaker. It pairs naturally with the particle 咗 to indicate the action has been completed.
Examples
As soon as he turned around, he saw someone behind him.
Can you turn around and see who that is behind you?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to mean changing one's mind or changing a situation, as that would require the verb 改變. It is strictly for physical movement of the body.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
