jan4 jing2人影
Jyutpingjan4 jing2
Yaleyàhn yíng
Definition
A person's silhouette or figure, or a trace of human presence.
- a person's shadow, silhouette, or figure
- a trace of human presence
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Primarily used in the negative construction 人影都冇 to emphasize that a place is completely deserted or that a person is missing. It conveys a sense of emptiness or abandonment more vividly than simply saying nobody is there. While it can literally refer to a silhouette or shadow of a person, its most common function is this idiomatic expression for absence.
Examples
The street is so quiet, there is not even a soul in sight.
Did you see a figure over there just now?
Related words
Common phrases
not a soul in sight
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 影子 which refers to a shadow in a general sense. When talking about a person being completely absent, always use 人影 rather than just 影子.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
