jan4 gaan1人間人间
Jyutpingjan4 gaan1
Yaleyàhn gāan
Definition
The human world; the mortal realm.
neutralother
How it's used
Often carries a slightly poetic or dramatic tone, frequently appearing in literature, lyrics, or when discussing life and death. It contrasts sharply with the spiritual or supernatural realms, emphasizing the transient nature of human existence. When used in the phrase 人間地獄, it functions as a common hyperbole to describe a place or situation that is unbearable.
Examples
It is as if he does not belong to this mortal world.
This place is simply a living hell.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in casual, everyday conversation to refer to the world or society, as it sounds overly literary or theatrical. Use 世界 or 社會 instead for mundane contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
