揼 (beng) - A Cantonese dialect character meaning to hang down, & also used to describe the action of swinging

揼Tone 5

beng ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

揼 · beng

A Cantonese dialect character meaning to hang down, dangle, delay, or dawdle;

also used to describe the action of swinging something.

A Cantonese dialect character meaning to hang down,also used to describe the action of swinging

Usage highlights

dawdle/delayhang downswing back and forthwaste timedangle legsdrop down

Synonyms

  • 吊— to hang, suspend
  • 拖— to drag, delay
  • 延— to delay, postpone

Antonyms

  • 急— urgent, hurried
  • 快— fast, quick
  • 速— rapid, speedy

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is dawdling on purpose (佢故意揼波钟).
  • The monkey is hanging from the tree (只猴揼喺树上).
  • Don't delay any longer (唔好再揼时间啦).
  • The pendulum is swinging back and forth (个钟摆揼来揼去).

Collocations

  • dawdle/delay(揼波钟)
  • hang down(揼落来)
  • swing back and forth(揼来揼去)
  • waste time(揼时间)
  • dangle legs(揼脚)
  • drop down(揼低)

Idioms

  • Deliberately delaying(故意揼波钟)
  • Hanging precariously(揼揼吊吊)
  • Swinging back and forth(揼下揼下)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Primarily used in Cantonese and southern Chinese dialects, not in standard Mandarin.
  • Often appears in colloquial Cantonese expressions related to time-wasting or procrastination.
  • The character 揼波钟 originally comes from football/soccer terminology meaning to waste time.

FAQ