jan4 dei6人地
Jyutpingjan4 dei6
Yaleyàhn deih
Definition
Other people; someone else.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Functions as a colloquial pronoun for other people or they. It carries a slightly more personal or informal tone than the more neutral 佢哋, often used when contrasting one's own actions or feelings with those of outsiders. It is frequently used to express a sense of social pressure or to highlight the perspective of people outside one's immediate circle.
Examples
Others haven't finished speaking yet, why are you in such a rush?
Related words
Common mistake
Beginners often confuse 人地 with 佢哋. While 佢哋 strictly means they, 人地 specifically emphasizes the distinction between oneself and other people, often implying a sense of comparison or external judgment.
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.
