goeng1 si1殭屍僵尸
Jyutpinggoeng1 si1
Yalegēung sī
Definition
Jiangshi, a Chinese hopping vampire or zombie.
colloquialother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the undead creature from Chinese folklore that moves by hopping with arms extended. While the term is often used for Western zombies in modern speech, it carries a distinct cultural connotation of the Qing dynasty official attire and stiff, hopping movement. It is a staple of Hong Kong horror cinema from the 1980s.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
I was really scared when I watched vampire movies as a kid.
Do you believe that zombies exist in this world?
Related words
Common phrases
vampire movie
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 喪屍, which is the standard term for the modern, flesh-eating, virus-infected zombies seen in Western media. Using 殭屍 for a Western-style zombie is technically inaccurate, though sometimes done colloquially.
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.
