sam2沈
Jyutpingsam2
Yalesám
Definition
A Chinese surname, typically romanized as Sham, Sum, or Sam.
neutralpeople
How it's used
This character is strictly used as a surname in Hong Kong. While it can mean to sink or submerge in other contexts, those meanings are almost never expressed using this character in spoken Cantonese, where 沉 is preferred for the verb.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 沉, which is the verb for sinking or being heavy. Even though they share the same pronunciation in many contexts, they are distinct characters with different functions.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
