hon4 mei4寒微
Jyutpinghon4 mei4
Yalehòhn mèih
Definition
Of humble origins, low social status, or poor family background.
writtenpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Primarily used in formal or literary contexts to describe someone's social or economic background. It carries a sense of empathy or respect for those who have overcome difficult beginnings. While it can be used in speech, it often sounds quite serious or dramatic, making it less common in casual daily small talk.
Examples
Although he came from a humble background, he studied very hard.
Don't look down on people just because they are of humble status.
Related words
Common phrases
to come from a humble background
to have a poor family background
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 貧窮, which strictly refers to being poor or having no money. 寒微 specifically emphasizes the low social status or lack of prestige associated with one's origins, rather than just the current financial state.
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.
