jan4 man4人文
Jyutpingjan4 man4
Yaleyàhn màhn
Definition
Humanities, human culture, or arts; also relating to humanism or the exploration of human dignity and existence.
neutralschool
How it's used
人文 is primarily used in academic, formal, or intellectual contexts rather than everyday casual chat. It functions as a broad umbrella term covering fields like philosophy, literature, and history. When discussing specific cultural practices or traditions, people usually prefer using 文化 instead.
Examples
This university really values humanities education.
Are you interested in human history and culture?
Related words
Common phrases
humanism
humanistic spirit
humanistic care
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 人類, which refers specifically to the human species or mankind. Using 人文 to describe a group of people or a biological population is incorrect.
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.
