daan2 jyun2 zi1 dei6彈丸之地弹丸之地
Jyutpingdaan2 jyun2 zi1 dei6
Yaledáan yún jī deih
Definition
A tiny place; a very small area of land.
neutralplaces
How it's used
Carries a slightly literary or dramatic tone, often used to emphasize how a small area manages to contain a large population or significant activity. It is frequently employed in news reports or formal commentary to contrast limited physical space with impressive achievements. While it sounds sophisticated, it is perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation when expressing surprise at how much can fit into a small area.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Hong Kong is such a tiny place, yet it developed very quickly.
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a small object or a small room, as it specifically refers to geographical areas or territories. It is not interchangeable with general adjectives for small size like 細.
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.
