daan6 gaa1蛋家
Jyutpingdaan6 gaa1
Yaledaahn gā
Definition
The Tanka people; boat dwellers who traditionally live on boats in Southern China.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Historically referring to boat-dwelling communities in Southern China, this term is now largely associated with cultural heritage rather than a contemporary lifestyle. While it describes a specific group, it can sometimes carry a derogatory historical baggage depending on the context and tone, so it is best used when discussing history or genealogy.
Examples
They were Tanka people in the past and lived on boats all the time.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term to describe anyone living on a boat today, as it refers specifically to the historical ethnic group and their traditional maritime culture, not just any modern boat resident.
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.
