daai6 zin3大戰大战
Jyutpingdaai6 zin3
Yaledaaih jin
Definition
Large-scale war or conflict.
neutralother
How it's used
While referring to historical events like the World Wars, this term is almost exclusively used with the ordinal numbers 第一次 or 第二次. Outside of historical contexts, it is often used metaphorically to describe any intense, large-scale conflict or heated argument between people. It carries a sense of gravity and overwhelming scale that distinguishes it from a simple fight or disagreement.
Measure word
coeng4場chèunghExamples
There have been two world wars in human history.
Do you think there will be a third world war in the future?
Related words
Common phrases
World War II
a war breaks out
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe small-scale regional conflicts or local skirmishes, as it specifically implies a global or massive scope. For smaller fights, use terms like 打交 or 衝突 instead.
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.
