hong1 hang4匡衡
Jyutpinghong1 hang4
Yalehōng hàhng
Definition
Kuang Heng, a Chinese scholar and prime minister of the Western Han dynasty.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Mentioning this name almost exclusively triggers the idiom 鑿壁偷光, which describes someone studying under difficult conditions. It serves as a cultural shorthand for extreme diligence and academic perseverance in Chinese society. You will rarely hear the name used outside of discussions regarding this specific historical anecdote.
Examples
Do you know the story of Kuang Heng drilling a hole in the wall to steal light?
Kuang Heng is a very famous scholar from ancient times.
Related words
Common phrases
drilling a hole in the wall to steal light
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
