gwong1 nin4光年
Jyutpinggwong1 nin4
Yalegwōng nìhn
Definition
Light-year; a unit of astronomical distance equal to the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year.
neutralnature
How it's used
Scientific terminology often sounds formal in Cantonese, but this term is frequently used in casual science discussions or science fiction contexts. It functions as a unit of measurement rather than a standard noun, so it is usually preceded by a number or a quantifier like 幾.
Examples
How many light-years away is this star from us?
That galaxy is so far away it takes millions of light-years to reach.
Related words
Common phrases
how many light-years
several million light-years
Common mistake
Learners sometimes mistakenly use this to describe a long period of time, as if it were a unit of duration. Remember that it strictly measures distance in space, not the passage of time.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
