hung4 faan1紅番红番
Jyutpinghung4 faan1
Yalehùhng fāan
Definition
An indigenous person of the Americas.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
This term is a direct translation of the outdated and offensive English slur red Indian. It carries a heavy colonial weight and is widely considered derogatory by indigenous communities. Modern speakers should avoid using it entirely, as it reduces complex cultures to a single racial stereotype.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Old movies really liked calling them red Indians.
Do you know that the term red Indian is actually very disrespectful?
Related words
Common phrases
Bronx (often used in movie titles)
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a neutral or historical term because it appears in older literature or dubbed films. Using it in conversation will likely cause offense, as it is viewed as a racist label rather than an accurate descriptor.
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.
