gwok3 man4國民国民
Jyutpinggwok3 man4
Yalegwok màhn
Definition
A national or citizen of a country.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the legal status of belonging to a nation, carrying a formal and political tone. It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation between friends, as people usually prefer to state their nationality directly using 國家 or 地方. It appears most frequently in news reports, government documents, or discussions regarding rights and duties.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
As a citizen, one should abide by the law.
Which country are you a citizen of?
Related words
Common phrases
national education
gross national product
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 公民, which emphasizes the civil rights and responsibilities within a society, whereas 國民 focuses on the relationship between an individual and the nation-state.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
