ging1荊荆
Jyutpingging1
Yalegīng
Definition
Any of several shrub or arbor plants like redbud; thorns; or, figuratively, difficulties.
- plant name for shrubs or trees, such as the Chinese redbud or Hong Kong orchid
- thorns or briars
- figurativedifficulties or obstacles
neutralnaturedescriptions
How it's used
Used primarily in literary contexts or compound words, this character rarely appears as a standalone noun in modern spoken Cantonese. It is most frequently encountered in the phrase 荊棘 to describe thorny plants or, metaphorically, the difficult obstacles one faces in life. When referring to the specific flower of Hong Kong, the full name 洋紫荊 is always used instead of just 荊.
Examples
This place is full of thorns, it is hard to walk through.
They really went through many hardships when they started their business.
Related words
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
