ceot1 san1出身
Jyutpingceot1 san1
Yalechēut sān
Definition
One's family background or upbringing, or to begin one's career.
- one's family background or upbringing
- to start one's career or working life
neutralpeople
How it's used
Focuses on the social or professional origin of a person rather than just the physical act of being born. It is frequently used to discuss someone's class, family status, or the field in which they first established their career. In professional contexts, it often implies the training or industry where someone gained their initial experience.
Examples
He comes from a grassroots background and understands the needs of the grassroots well.
Do you know what kind of background he comes from?
Related words
Common phrases
to come from a humble background
to come from a prestigious family
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 出世, which refers specifically to the act of being born. Using 出身 to describe the physical birth event is incorrect.
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.



