faan1番
Jyutpingfaan1
Yalefāan
Definition
Foreign; relating to foreign countries, ethnic minorities, or non-native things.
colloquialfoodother
How it's used
Historically, this character was used to label items introduced to China from abroad, particularly during the Qing dynasty. While it appears in common words like 番茄, it is increasingly replaced by 洋 or simply omitted in modern vocabulary. It carries a slightly dated or traditional nuance compared to the more neutral 外國.
Examples
Is this a tomato or a regular eggplant?
People used to like calling soap 'foreign soap'.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the verb 番 meaning to return or come back, which is a common homophone in speech. In writing, the verb form is often represented by 返.
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.
