jau5 sik1 jan4 zung2有色人種有色人种
Jyutpingjau5 sik1 jan4 zung2
Yaleyáuh sīk yàhn júng
Definition
People of color; non-white racial groups.
neutralpeople
How it's used
This term is largely considered outdated and carries colonial baggage, as it was historically used to categorize anyone not of European descent. Modern discourse in Hong Kong prefers more specific or neutral terminology when discussing race or ethnicity. Using it in contemporary settings can sound insensitive or imply a Eurocentric worldview.
Examples
Society should not discriminate against coloured people.
Are they also considered coloured people?
Common phrases
discriminate against coloured people
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this as a direct, neutral translation for any non-white person, but it is not a term used for self-identification and can be offensive depending on the context.
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).
