can4 nin4陳年陈年
Jyutpingcan4 nin4
Yalechàhn nìhn
Definition
Old or aged; left or stored for many years.
colloquialfooddescriptions
How it's used
Primarily used to describe things that have been stored or left untouched for a significant amount of time, often implying a sense of maturity or long-standing history. While it frequently appears in positive contexts like food or wine, it is also commonly used metaphorically to describe outdated ideas or past grievances that should have been forgotten.
Examples
Are you still bringing up these old stories from years ago?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe people, as it can sound insulting by implying someone is ancient or obsolete. It is strictly for objects, abstract concepts, or specific food items.
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.
