ging1 sing4京城
Jyutpingging1 sing4
Yalegīng sìhng
Definition
The capital city of a country.
writtenplaces
How it's used
Refers specifically to the capital city of a country, often carrying a slightly formal or literary tone compared to the common term 首都. It is frequently used in historical contexts or when referring to Beijing in a stylized manner, though it can be applied to any capital city in a narrative or descriptive sense.
Examples
Their whole family moved to the capital to live.
Related words
Common phrases
inside and outside the capital
Common mistake
Avoid using this in casual, modern everyday conversation as it sounds overly dramatic or archaic. Use 首都 for standard, neutral references to a capital city.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
