daan1 san1單身单身
Jyutpingdaan1 san1
Yaledāan sān
Definition
Single; unmarried, or not currently in a romantic relationship.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Focuses specifically on romantic status rather than just living alone. It is frequently used in casual conversation to ask about someone's dating life, often paired with the aspect marker 緊 or 咗 to indicate the duration of that status.
Examples
He has been single for a long time.
Related words
Common phrases
a single person who enjoys a high quality of life
a self-deprecating term for a single person
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe living alone in a house, as that is better expressed as 獨居. Using it for a person implies they are not in a relationship, not necessarily that they live by themselves.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
