fong1 jin4方言
Jyutpingfong1 jin4
Yalefōng yìhn
Definition
A dialect, referring to a regional or social variety of a language, or languages other than the standard.
neutralcommunication
How it's used
Refers to linguistic varieties that are often mutually unintelligible with the standard language, though the distinction between a language and a dialect is frequently political rather than purely linguistic. In casual conversation, people might use it to describe regional accents or specific local vernaculars that differ from standard Cantonese.
Measure word
zung3種jungExamples
Do you know how to speak any other dialects?
Only a very small number of people speak this dialect.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid confusing this with 鄉下話, which specifically refers to the native language or dialect of one's ancestral hometown. While方言 is a neutral, academic term, 鄉下話 carries a more personal and informal connotation related to family roots.
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.
