gam1 saan1 baak3金山伯
Jyutpinggam1 saan1 baak3
Yalegām sāan baak
Definition
An elderly Chinese man returning to China from America, typically between the 19th and early 20th centuries.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This term carries a strong historical connotation of success and wealth, reflecting the era when many Cantonese immigrants sought their fortunes in the United States. It specifically refers to the image of an overseas Chinese man returning home with savings, often seen as a symbol of status in his local village. While it is a historical term, it is still used today to describe that specific archetype of the returning immigrant.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
I heard his grandfather was a Gold Mountain uncle back in the day.
Back then, those Gold Mountain uncles were very impressive when they came back to visit relatives.
Related words
Common phrases
Gold Mountain (referring to the United States)
Common mistake
Do not use this term for any Chinese person living in America today, as it is strictly tied to the historical migration period and the specific cultural image of the returning elderly man.
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.
