baak3 gaa1 sing3百家姓
Jyutpingbaak3 gaa1 sing3
Yalebaak gā sing
Definition
The Hundred Family Surnames, a classic Chinese book listing common surnames.
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How it's used
Refers specifically to the classic Song Dynasty text that lists common Chinese surnames in a rhyming format. While it literally contains the word hundred, the actual text contains over four hundred surnames. It is often used as a cultural shorthand for the entirety of Chinese family names rather than just the specific book itself.
Measure word
bun2本búnExamples
I had to memorize the Hundred Family Surnames when I was a kid.
Do you know how many surnames are in the Hundred Family Surnames?
Related words
Common phrases
recite the Hundred Family Surnames
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
