hoi1 saan1開山开山
Jyutpinghoi1 saan1
Yalehōi sāan
Definition
To cut through mountains to build roads; to blaze a trail.
- to cut through mountains to build roads
- to clear land for farming or development
- figurativeto initiate or trailblaze; to found a sect or school
neutraldaily actionsplaces
How it's used
Refers specifically to the physical act of clearing a path through rugged or mountainous terrain. It carries a sense of arduous labor and pioneering effort, often implying that the path did not exist before the action was taken.
Examples
They had a very hard time trailblazing and building roads back then.
This path was trailblazed by those who came before us.
Related words
Common phrases
to cut through mountains and rocks
to clear a mountain path
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the metaphorical sense of starting a new field or school of thought, which is more commonly expressed as 開創 or 開拓.
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.
