coeng1娼
Jyutpingcoeng1
Yalechēung
Definition
A female prostitute.
writtenpeople
How it's used
This character is a formal or literary morpheme that rarely appears in spoken Cantonese outside of compound words. It carries a strong, often derogatory or clinical tone, and is almost exclusively used in historical or sociological contexts. For everyday speech, people prefer using more neutral or descriptive terms to refer to sex workers.
Examples
She used to be a prostitute and had a very hard life.
How did people in the past view the profession of prostitution?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this character to describe a person directly in conversation, as it is highly offensive and judgmental. It is strictly a written or formal term for the profession rather than a casual way to address or label someone.
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.
