cung1聰聪
Jyutpingcung1
Yalechūng
Definition
Hearing or the ability to hear.
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How it's used
This character is primarily a bound morpheme in Cantonese and rarely stands alone in modern speech. It carries a formal or medical connotation when used in compounds like 失聰, which is the standard way to refer to hearing loss. While it also implies intelligence or being clever in classical contexts, that usage is largely absent from everyday spoken Cantonese.
Examples
He has been deaf since he was a child.
Related words
Common phrases
deafness
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 聰明, which is a common word for smart. Using 聰 on its own to mean smart is not natural in spoken Cantonese.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
