hoeng1 gong2 wui4 gwai1香港回歸香港回归
Jyutpinghoeng1 gong2 wui4 gwai1
Yalehēung góng wùih gwāi
Definition
The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China on July 1st, 1997.
neutraltimeplaces
How it's used
Refers specifically to the 1997 event where control of the territory passed from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China. It is a fixed historical term used in both formal and casual discussions about the city's timeline. Speakers often use it as a temporal anchor to describe when something happened in relation to the transition.
Examples
How old were you when Hong Kong was handed over?
They experienced the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong when they were very young.
Related words
Common phrases
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
