hung1 nou4匈奴
Jyutpinghung1 nou4
Yalehūng nòuh
Definition
The Xiongnu; a confederation of nomadic peoples and their state in ancient Central Eurasia.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the historical nomadic confederation that frequently clashed with the Han dynasty. It is almost exclusively used in academic, historical, or literary contexts rather than daily life. When discussing them, people often pair the term with descriptions of their military prowess or their migration patterns across the Eurasian steppe.
Examples
History books often talk about how the Xiongnu invaded the Central Plains.
Do you know where the Xiongnu ended up going?
Related words
Common phrases
Xiongnu people
Southern Xiongnu
Northern Xiongnu
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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.
