jan4 dei6 sang1 so1人地生疏
Jyutpingjan4 dei6 sang1 so1
Yaleyàhn deih sāng sō
Definition
Unfamiliar with both the people and the place in a new environment.
colloquialpeopleplaces
How it's used
This idiom is frequently used to explain why someone might feel cautious or vulnerable when arriving in a new city or country. It highlights the lack of social connections and local knowledge, often serving as a justification for needing help or being extra careful. While it describes a state of being lost or confused, it is also used to express a sense of loneliness or isolation in an unfamiliar environment.
Related words
Common phrases
unfamiliar with the place and people
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with simply being lost, but it specifically refers to the lack of familiarity with both the geography and the people. It is a state of being, not just a temporary action of losing one's way.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
