jat1 san1一身
Jyutpingjat1 san1
Yaleyāt sān
Definition
Alone; a single person or a single thing.
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How it's used
Using 一身 to mean alone is a very specific, slightly literary or old-fashioned way of speaking that emphasizes being solitary or independent. In modern daily conversation, people overwhelmingly prefer using 一個人 or 單獨 to express this concept. It carries a nuance of being unencumbered or having no one else to rely on, rather than just the physical state of being solo.
Examples
He always likes to travel alone.
Are you planning to go to the cinema by yourself?
Related words
Common phrases
light and unburdened
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the common phrase 一身 which means all over one's body, such as in 一身汗 meaning covered in sweat. Using it to mean alone in a casual setting might sound slightly poetic or dramatic to native speakers.
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.
