jan4 saan1 jan4 hoi2人山人海
Jyutpingjan4 saan1 jan4 hoi2
Yaleyàhn sāan yàhn hói
Definition
A huge crowd of people; packed with people.
colloquialpeopleplaces
How it's used
This idiom is used to describe an overwhelming, dense concentration of people in a public space. It carries a slightly negative or weary connotation, implying that the crowd is so large it makes movement difficult or uncomfortable. It is frequently used when describing popular tourist spots, festivals, or shopping districts during peak hours.
Examples
Mong Kok is packed with people, I can barely move.
Look at the huge crowd in the mall, is there some kind of event?
Related words
Common phrases
it is simply packed with people
the scene is crowded with people
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a simple group or a busy office setting, as it specifically emphasizes the sheer volume of people to the point of congestion. It is not used to describe the population size of a country or city.
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.
