hung4 ngaan4紅顏红颜

Jyutpinghung4 ngaan4

Yalehùhng ngàahn

名詞Uncommon

Definition

A beautiful woman, or women in general as a literary term.

writtenpeopledescriptions

How it's used

Carries a distinct literary and slightly nostalgic tone that is rarely used in casual, everyday speech. It often appears in contexts involving romance, history, or traditional poetry. Using it to describe a woman in a modern office or casual setting can sound overly dramatic or archaic.

Measure word

wai6位waih

Examples

keoi5佢zan1真hai6係jat1一wai6位hung4紅ngaan4顏，hou2好do1多naam4男zai2仔dou1都zung1鍾ji3意keoi5佢。

She is truly a beauty, many boys like her.

gu2古doi6代hou2好do1多si1詩jan4人dou1都zung1鍾ji3意se2寫hung4紅ngaan4顏。

Many poets in ancient times liked to write about beautiful women.

Common phrases

hung4紅ngaan4顏bok6薄ming6命

beautiful women often have tragic fates

hung4紅ngaan4顏zi1知gei2己

a close female friend or confidante

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with general terms for beauty like 靚女, which is the standard colloquial way to refer to a beautiful woman. Using 紅顏 in a casual conversation might make you sound like you are reciting a period drama script.