SCMP Originals

Using Cantonese ‘symptom’ words to describe behaviour and emotions

Descriptions of medical symptoms in Cantonese are often used in daily conversations to produce some fun expressions about behaviour and emotions. Luisa Tam walks us through some insane terms for a range of feelings, from sam jyun meaning “soft heart” to indicate forgiveness, to ngaang geng which literally means “stiff neck” but really describes stubbornness.

June 23, 2020