gu3 jan4故人
Jyutpinggu3 jan4
Yalegu yàhn
Definition
An old friend, or a deceased person.
- an old friend
- literarya deceased person; the dead
colloquialpeople
How it's used
While this term can refer to a deceased person in literary contexts, it is most commonly used in spoken Cantonese to refer to a long-time friend one has not seen for a while. It carries a slightly nostalgic or sentimental tone compared to the more casual 老友. Using it to describe a dead person in casual conversation can be confusing or sound overly dramatic, so context is key.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common phrases
reunion of old friends
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common way to say friend, but it is much more specific than 朋友. Avoid using it for someone you see every day, as it implies a sense of history or a long period of separation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
