cyun4 sing4全城
Jyutpingcyun4 sing4
Yalechyùhn sìhng
Definition
The entire city.
neutralplacespeople
How it's used
Often functions as an adverbial modifier to describe events that affect everyone in a city simultaneously. It carries a sense of collective experience or shared atmosphere, frequently appearing in news headlines or dramatic storytelling to emphasize scale. While it literally refers to a city, it is commonly used in a figurative sense to imply a widespread public reaction.
Examples
The whole city knows they are dating.
This news has caused a stir across the entire city.
Related words
Common phrases
the whole city is in an uproar
the talk of the town
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical locations or objects, as it specifically refers to the people or the social atmosphere of the city. It is not a direct substitute for the geographical area itself.
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.
