cong1 song1滄桑沧桑
Jyutpingcong1 song1
Yalechōng sōng
Definition
Weathered and changed greatly after having been through a lot of hardships.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This word carries a heavy, melancholic weight, often used to describe someone who has endured significant life hardships or the passage of time. It is frequently applied to a person's facial expression or general aura to suggest they have seen and experienced more than the average person. Unlike simply being old, it implies a deep, internal transformation caused by life events.
Examples
His face looks very weathered.
After going through so much, he has become very seasoned.
Related words
Common phrases
a sense of being weathered
face full of life's hardships
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical objects or inanimate things, as it specifically refers to the human experience of hardship and the resulting change in character or appearance.
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.
