hong4 ng5行伍
Jyutpinghong4 ng5
Yalehòhng ńgh
Definition
The ranks; the army or military troops.
writtenwork
How it's used
This term is a formal, literary way to refer to military service or the ranks of an army. It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation and is mostly encountered in historical accounts, biographies, or formal writing. Using it in a casual setting will sound overly dramatic or archaic.
Examples
He joined the army when he was young.
Do you know why he joined the military?
Related words
Common phrases
to join the army
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common word for soldier, but it specifically refers to the collective state of being in the military or the ranks themselves rather than an individual soldier.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
