gong3 sang1降生
Jyutpinggong3 sang1
Yalegong sāng
Definition
To be born, especially referring to the incarnation or descent of a deity into the world.
writtenpeople
How it's used
This term is almost exclusively reserved for religious contexts involving deities or holy figures. It carries a sense of divine intervention or sacred arrival that makes it inappropriate for describing the birth of an ordinary human. Using it for a regular person would sound overly dramatic or even mocking.
Examples
Legend has it that the deity was born here.
Related words
Common phrases
the birth of Jesus
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe the birth of a baby in a hospital, as it implies a supernatural or messianic event. For normal births, use 出世 or 出生 instead.
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.
