jam1 gaan1陰間阴间
Jyutpingjam1 gaan1
Yaleyām gāan
Definition
The underworld; the realm of the dead where souls go after death in traditional beliefs.
colloquialother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the afterlife realm in traditional Chinese folk religion and mythology. It carries a slightly eerie or superstitious connotation, often invoked when discussing ghost stories or ancestral offerings. Unlike the more abstract concept of heaven or hell, this term is deeply tied to the physical and social structure of the afterlife as a mirror to the living world.
Examples
I heard life in the underworld is very different from ours here.
Do you know what the underworld is actually like?
Related words
Common phrases
messenger of the underworld
Common mistake
Avoid using this to refer to the Christian concept of hell, which is usually called 地獄. Using 陰間 to describe a place of punishment can sound culturally inaccurate or confusing to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
