cam4 gan1尋根寻根
Jyutpingcam4 gan1
Yalechàhm gān
Definition
To search for one's roots; to research or trace one's family history and ancestral background.
neutralpeoplefamily
How it's used
Refers specifically to the act of tracing one's ancestry or ancestral origins, often involving travel to a family's ancestral hometown. It carries a sense of cultural or personal identity discovery rather than just genealogical research. It is frequently used in the context of the Chinese diaspora reconnecting with their heritage.
Examples
He recently returned to his ancestral village to search for his roots.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with searching for the root cause of a problem, which is better expressed as 追根究底 or 搵出原因.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
