hak1 jan4黑人
Jyutpinghak1 jan4
Yalehāk yàhn
Definition
Black person; a person of Black or African descent.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Using this term is generally considered a neutral, descriptive way to identify someone by race in Cantonese. It functions similarly to the English term black person, but it is important to be aware that it focuses primarily on skin tone as a visual descriptor. While not inherently offensive, it is always more polite to refer to someone by their name or profession if possible.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He has a black friend who really likes eating dim sum.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term as a standalone label to address someone directly, as it can sound blunt or reductive. It is much better to use it as an adjective to describe someone rather than as a noun to categorize them.
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.
