gwan2袞衮
Jyutpinggwan2
Yalegwán
Definition
An imperial robe worn by an emperor or high-ranking royalty in ancient China.
writtenclothing
How it's used
Refers specifically to the ceremonial attire worn by emperors in historical contexts. It carries a strong sense of regality and ancient tradition, making it almost exclusively used in discussions about history, period dramas, or museum artifacts. It is rarely part of everyday vocabulary unless one is an enthusiast of historical clothing or literature.
Measure word
gin2件gínExamples
This imperial robe is very heavy, it is not something an ordinary person can wear.
Where did you see this antique imperial robe?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with common clothing terms like 衫 or 袍, as it is strictly reserved for the formal, high-status garments of royalty. Using it to describe a regular coat or jacket will sound extremely bizarre or overly dramatic to native speakers.
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.
