je6 jau4 san4夜游神
Jyutpingje6 jau4 san4
Yaleyeh yàuh sàhn
Definition
The Night Patrolling God in folklore; used figuratively to describe a night owl or someone who loiters late at night.
- the Night Patrolling God in folklore and superstition
- figurativea night owl; someone who wanders or loiters late at night
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
Originally referring to a deity in Chinese mythology who patrols at night, this term is now used colloquially to describe people who habitually stay out late or wander the streets after midnight. It carries a slightly playful or teasing tone when applied to friends who never seem to sleep. It is not used for people who work night shifts, but rather for those who choose to stay out for leisure.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Why are you acting like a night owl and not coming home all night?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone working a night shift, as it specifically implies voluntary loitering or socialising rather than professional duty.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
