龍捲風
lung4 gyun2 fung1
The English word "tornado" is translated into Cantonese as 龍捲風 (lung4 gyun2 fung1).
龍捲風 is used to refer to a violent windstorm.
Meaning: violent windstorm (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 龍 (dragon), 捲 (roll/curl) and 風 (wind).
How do you pronounce it?
lung4 gyun2 fung1
Did you know?
- The character 捲 in 龍捲風 is also the word for 'to curl' or 'to roll up', which is the same character used in the Cantonese term for a 'hair perm' or 'curlers'.
- In Cantonese culture, the dragon is often associated with water and storms, which explains why the word 龍 is used to describe such a weather phenomenon.
- Despite the powerful imagery of a 'dragon', the term is a relatively modern translation used to describe a specific Western meteorological event.
Examples in context
- 嗰度出現咗龍捲風。go2 dou6 ceot1 jin6 zo2 lung4 gyut3 fung1.A tornado appeared there.
- 龍捲風好危險。lung4 gyut3 fung1 hou2 ngai4 him1.A tornado is very dangerous.
- 佢哋喺電視睇到龍捲風。keoi5 dei6 hai2 din6 si6 tai2 dou3 lung4 gyut3 fung1.They saw a tornado on TV.
Example conversation
Two friends are watching a news report about a storm.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung家明，睇下！係龍捲風！ga1 ming4, tai2 haa5! hai6 lung4 gyun2 fung1!Ka Ming, look! It's a tornado!
- 家明 Ka Ming哇，個龍捲風好大。waa1, go3 lung4 gyun2 fung1 hou2 daai6.Wow, that tornado is huge.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung希望冇人受傷。hei1 mong4 mou5 jan4 sau6 soeng1.I hope no one is injured.
- 家明 Ka Ming我都咁覺得。ngo5 dou1 gam2 gok3 dak1.I feel the same way.
