jam1 man4陰文阴文
Jyutpingjam1 man4
Yaleyām màhn
Definition
Characters cut in intaglio; negative characters on a seal or inscription.
neutralother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the technique of carving characters into a surface so they appear as recessed lines, often seen in traditional Chinese seals. It contrasts directly with 陽文, where the characters are left raised against a recessed background. You will mostly encounter this term in the context of calligraphy, seal carving, or historical artifacts.
Examples
Do you prefer intaglio or relief carving more?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with general carving terms, but it is a technical term specific to the orientation of the characters in relation to the background. It is not used to describe general writing or printing styles.
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.
