bun2 dei6 jan4本地人
Jyutpingbun2 dei6 jan4
Yalebún deih yàhn
Definition
Locals; people who live in a particular local area.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to people who have lived in a place for a long time or were born there, carrying a sense of familiarity with local customs and dialect. It is frequently used to distinguish between residents and tourists or expatriates. When someone speaks Cantonese fluently, locals often compliment them by saying they sound like a local.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Many locals patronize this restaurant.
Are you a local?
Related words
Common phrases
authentic local
Common mistake
Avoid using this to refer to someone just because they are currently living in the city, as it implies a deeper connection or long-term residency. For temporary residents or foreigners, terms like 外國人 or 遊客 are more appropriate.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
