cin4 jan4前人
Jyutpingcin4 jan4
Yalechìhn yàhn
Definition
Predecessor or precursor; people of earlier generations who contributed to a field.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to those who paved the way or established a foundation in a particular field or endeavor. It carries a sense of respect and acknowledgement for the intellectual or practical contributions made by those who came before. While it can apply to ancestors in a general sense, it is more commonly used in professional or academic contexts to discuss historical progress.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
We should thank our predecessors for the wisdom they left behind.
Why don't you refer to the experience of those who came before you?
Related words
Common phrases
predecessors plant trees (for descendants to enjoy the shade)
wisdom of predecessors
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.
