Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
John: Expressions that Involve Body Parts
John: Hi everyone, and welcome back to CantoneseClass101.com. I'm John.
Siuling: And I'm Siuling!
John: This is Must-Know Cantonese Slang Words and Phrases, Season 1, Lesson 17. In this lesson, you'll learn expressions that involve body parts.
John: Hong Kongers often like to describe situations with unusual expressions that can't be translated directly, so don't be surprised when you hear these on a regular basis.
SLANG EXPRESSIONS
John: The expressions you'll be learning in this lesson are:
Siuling: 搶眼 (coeng2 ngaan5)
Siuling: 頭耷耷 (tau4 dap1 dap1)
Siuling: 夾手夾腳 (gaap3 sau2 gaap3 goek3)
Siuling: 面左左 (min6 zo2 zo2)
John: Siuling, what's our first expression?
Siuling: 搶眼 (coeng2 ngaan5)
John: literally meaning "to snatch the eyes." But when it's used as a slang expression, it means "eye-catching; dazzling; attractive."
Siuling: [SLOW] 搶眼 [NORMAL] 搶眼
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Siuling: 搶眼
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: Use this slang expression when describing a person or an object that’s very attractive or eye-catching.
John: Let's hear an example sentence.
Siuling: [NORMAL] 件衫好搶眼。 [SLOW] 件衫好搶眼。
John: "The top is very eye catching."
Siuling: [NORMAL] 件衫好搶眼。
John: Okay, what's the next expression?
Siuling: 頭耷耷 (tau4 dap1 dap1)
John: literally meaning "head droop droop." But when it's used as a slang expression, it means "head drooping; depressed."
Siuling: [SLOW] 頭耷耷 [NORMAL] 頭耷耷
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Siuling: 頭耷耷
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: Use this slang expression when someone has their head hanging low and looks depressed.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Siuling: [NORMAL] 你做乜頭耷耷,生意失敗呀? [SLOW] 你做乜頭耷耷,生意失敗呀?
John: "Why do you look so depressed? Problems with the business?"
Siuling: [NORMAL] 你做乜頭耷耷,生意失敗呀?
John: Okay, what's our next expression?
Siuling: 夾手夾腳 (gaap3 sau2 gaap3 goek3)
John: which literally means "to clip hands and legs together." When it's used as a slang expression, it means "to work together; to do something together."
Siuling: [SLOW] 夾手夾腳 [NORMAL] 夾手夾腳
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Siuling: 夾手夾腳
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: Use this slang expression when describing two or more people working together to get things done quickly.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Siuling: [NORMAL] 我哋夾手夾腳攪掂佢。 [SLOW] 我哋夾手夾腳攪掂佢。
John: "Let's fix it together."
Siuling: [NORMAL] 我哋夾手夾腳攪掂佢。
John: Okay, what's the last expression?
Siuling: 面左左 (min6 zo2 zo2)
John: literally meaning "face left left." As a slang expression, it means "to be in conflict."
Siuling: [SLOW] 面左左 [NORMAL] 面左左
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Siuling: 面左左
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: Use this slang expression when two or more people had a fight or conflict. They don't want to talk to each other anymore and have created this tension between them.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Siuling: [NORMAL] 佢哋兩個點解面左左? [SLOW] 佢哋兩個點解面左左?
John: "Why are they feuding?"
Siuling: [NORMAL] 佢哋兩個點解面左左?
QUIZ
John: Okay listeners, are you ready to be quizzed on the expressions you just learned? I’ll describe four situations, and you’ll choose the right expression to use in your reply. Are you ready?
John: Someone looks sad and his head is hanging.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Siuling: 頭耷耷
John: "head drooping; depressed"
John: Something dazzling caught your eye.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Siuling: 搶眼
John: "eye-catching; dazzling; attractive"
John: Two people are ignoring each other after a conflict.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Siuling: 面左左
John: "to be in conflict"
John: A group of staff members are working together to get the project done.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Siuling: 夾手夾腳
John: "to work together; to do something together"

Outro

John: There you have it; you’ve mastered four Cantonese slang expressions! We have more vocab lists available at CantoneseClass101.com so be sure to check them out. Thanks, everyone, and see you next time!
Siuling: 拜拜.

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