baak3 jyut6百越
Jyutpingbaak3 jyut6
Yalebaak yuht
Definition
Baiyue; an ancient collective term for the diverse non-Chinese peoples who inhabited Southern China.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Historians and linguists often reference this term when discussing the substratum of modern Cantonese, as many unique features of the language are believed to be remnants of the original Baiyue languages. It is a formal historical term rather than a common conversational word, so it is mostly encountered in academic contexts or discussions about regional history.
Examples
Baiyue culture has a very deep influence on the Lingnan region.
Do you know where the Baiyue people used to live?
Related words
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
