jan4 jin1人煙人烟
Jyutpingjan4 jin1
Yaleyành yīn
Definition
Sign of human habitation
writtenplacesdescriptions
How it's used
This term is almost exclusively used in the four character idiom 人煙稀少 to describe remote or desolate locations. It carries a slightly literary or formal tone, so it is rarely used in casual conversation to describe a crowded neighborhood. When you want to talk about a place being crowded or having many people, use words like 熱鬧 or 多人 instead.
Examples
nei1 dou6 jan4 jin1 hei1 siu2 je6 maan5 hou2 zing6
呢度人煙稀少，夜晚好靜。
There are very few people here, it is very quiet at night.
go2 go3 saan1 tau4 jan4 jin1 hon2 zi3 mou5 jan4 wui6 ji5 heoi3
嗰個山頭人煙罕至，冇人會去。
That hilltop has no signs of human activity, nobody goes there.
Related words
Common phrases
jan4 jin1 hei1 siu2
人煙稀少
sparsely populated
jan4 jin1 hon2 zi3
人煙罕至
seldom visited by people
Common mistake
Do not use this word to describe the number of people in a room or a specific gathering, as it specifically refers to the presence of households or long term human settlement in a geographical area.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
