hung1 gwan1空軍空军
Jyutpinghung1 gwan1
Yalehūng gwān
Definition
Air force; military forces that primarily use aircraft to fight and provide support.
neutralother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the military branch operating aircraft, but in modern Hong Kong slang, it is also used to describe someone who frequently cancels plans or fails to show up for a date. This metaphorical usage stems from the idea of someone who is 'all talk' and never actually lands or arrives at the scene.
Measure word
zi1支jīExamples
His dream when he was little was to be in the air force.
When is this air force unit departing?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse the literal military term with the slang usage where it refers to a 'no show' or a person who flakes on social arrangements.
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.
