jan4 sang1 dei6 bat1 suk6人生地不熟
Jyutpingjan4 sang1 dei6 bat1 suk6
Yaleyàhn sāng deih bāt suhk
Definition
Unfamiliar with a new place and its people, as a newcomer.
colloquialpeopleplaces
How it's used
This idiom captures the specific anxiety of being a stranger in a new environment where you lack local connections or knowledge. It is frequently used to explain why someone might be hesitant to explore or why they need help navigating daily tasks. Unlike simply saying you are new to a place, this phrase emphasizes the vulnerability of having no one to turn to for advice.
Examples
I just moved here, I'm unfamiliar with everything and don't know where to eat.
You're unfamiliar with the place, won't it be dangerous to travel alone?
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often try to use this as a direct translation for being a tourist, but it specifically implies a sense of helplessness or isolation. It is not appropriate for a casual vacation where you are just visiting landmarks, as it carries a heavier tone of being lost or out of your element.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
