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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
John: Idiomatic ABB Expressions Related to the Eyes
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 19. In this lesson, you'll learn idiomatic ABB expressions related to the eyes.
John: These expressions are often used when talking about things we do with our eyes.
SLANG EXPRESSIONS
John: The expressions you'll be learning in this lesson are:
Siuling: 眼濕濕 (ngaan5 sap1 sap1)
Siuling: 眼甘甘 (ngaan5 gam1 gam1)
Siuling: 眼眨眨 (ngaan5 zaam2 zaam2)
Siuling: 眼癱癱 (ngaan5 taan1 taan1)
John: Siuling, what's our first expression?
Siuling: 眼濕濕 (ngaan5 sap1 sap1)
John: literally meaning "eyes wet wet." But when it's used as a slang expression, it means "tearful, eyes full of tears."
Siuling: [SLOW] 眼濕濕 [NORMAL] 眼濕濕
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Siuling: 眼濕濕
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: Use this slang expression when eyes are tearing up.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Siuling: [NORMAL] 見到佢眼濕濕,我都心痛。 [SLOW] 見到佢眼濕濕,我都心痛。
John: "My heart aches seeing her all tearful."
Siuling: [NORMAL] 見到佢眼濕濕,我都心痛。
John: Okay, what's the next expression?
Siuling: 眼甘甘 (ngaan5 gam1 gam1)
John: which literally means "eyes sweet sweet." But when it's used as a slang expression, it means "gawk, stare at; seeing greedily."
Siuling: [SLOW] 眼甘甘 [NORMAL] 眼甘甘
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Siuling: 眼甘甘
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: Use this slang expression when someone is looking at something in a greedy or obscene manner.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Siuling: [NORMAL] 你眼甘甘咁望住佢,嚇親佢呀。 [SLOW] 你眼甘甘咁望住佢,嚇親佢呀。
John: "She'll spook if you keep staring at her like that."
Siuling: [NORMAL] 你眼甘甘咁望住佢,嚇親佢呀。
John: Okay, what's our next expression?
Siuling: 眼眨眨 (ngaan5 zaam2 zaam2)
John: literally meaning "eyes blink blink." As a slang expression, it means "blinking eyes."
Siuling: [SLOW] 眼眨眨 [NORMAL] 眼眨眨
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Siuling: 眼眨眨
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: Use this slang expression when describing how the eyes blink abnormally quick.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Siuling: [NORMAL] 你以為眼眨眨扮可愛就冇事呀? [SLOW] 你以為眼眨眨扮可愛就冇事呀?
John: "You think you can get away with it by batting your eyes and acting all cute?"
Siuling: [NORMAL] 你以為眼眨眨扮可愛就冇事呀?
John: Okay, what's the last expression?
Siuling: 眼癱癱 (ngaan5 taan1 taan1)
John: which literally means "eyes paralyzed paralyzed." When it's used as a slang expression, it means "in despair."
Siuling: [SLOW] 眼癱癱 [NORMAL] 眼癱癱
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Siuling: 眼癱癱
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: Use this slang expression when someone failed so badly that he could only helplessly look at the situation unfold in despair.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Siuling: [NORMAL] 佢喺賭場輸到眼癱癱。 [SLOW] 佢喺賭場輸到眼癱癱。
John: "He lost so much at the casino, he's in despair."
Siuling: [NORMAL] 佢喺賭場輸到眼癱癱。
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 in your reply. Are you ready?
John: You’re looking at something that you desire.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Siuling: 眼甘甘
John: "gawk, stare at; seeing greedily"
John: Someone is about to cry.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Siuling: 眼濕濕
John: "tearful, eyes full of tears"
John: Someone is in despair.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Siuling: 眼癱癱
John: "in despair"
John: A girl is blinking faster than normal to act cute.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Siuling: 眼眨眨
John: "blinking eyes"

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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