聯
lyun4
The Cantonese verb for 'sew' is 聯 (lyun4).
聯 is a transitive verb used to describe the action of using a needle.
Meaning: (transitive) use a needle (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
lyun4
Did you know?
- While 聯 means 'sew' or 'join', it is also the character used in the word for 'couplets', the traditional poetic banners seen during Lunar New Year.
- In Cantonese, there are entirely different sets of terms for 'stitching' depending on whether the task is sewing fabric or performing a surgical suture.
- In Cantonese, if you want to talk about sewing a button back onto a shirt, you would rarely use 聯. Instead, people often use the verb 補 which literally means 'to patch' or 'to repair'.
Example conversation
曉彤 is showing 家明 a torn dress.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung家明，呢件裙爛咗。gaa1 ming4, nei1 gin6 kwan4 laan6 zo2.Ka Ming, this dress is torn.
- 家明 Ka Ming我可以幫你聯返好。ngo5 ho2 yi5 bong1 nei5 lyun4 faan1 hou2.I can help you sew it back together.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung你識得聯衫呀？nei5 sik1 dak1 lyun4 saam1 aa3?You know how to sew clothes?
- 家明 Ka Ming係，我以前學過。hai6, ngo5 ji5 cin4 hok6 gwo3.Yes, I learned it before.
