jat6 jyut6 sing1 san4日月星辰
Jyutpingjat6 jyut6 sing1 san4
Yaleyaht yuht sīng sàhn
Definition
Heavenly bodies; the sun, moon, and stars.
writtennature
How it's used
This is a classical four-character idiom that carries a poetic and grand tone. It is rarely used in casual daily conversation and is more common in literature, song lyrics, or formal descriptions of nature. Using it in a mundane context might sound overly dramatic or archaic.
Examples
The ancients often looked up at the sun, moon, and stars.
The sun, moon, and stars here are truly beautiful.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal list of items to be used in everyday speech, but it is a fixed phrase. You should not use it to describe a simple night sky or a weather report, as it is reserved for more literary or philosophical contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
