je6 hoeng1夜香
Jyutpingje6 hoeng1
Yaleyeh hēung
Definition
Night soil; human waste collected from chamber pots at night.
colloquialpeoplehome
How it's used
This term is a classic example of a euphemism, using a poetic and ironic name to describe a very unpleasant reality. It is now almost exclusively used in historical or nostalgic contexts to describe the living conditions of old Hong Kong. You will rarely hear it used to describe actual waste in a modern setting, as it is tied to the specific practice of manual waste collection before the widespread adoption of flush toilets.
Examples
People had to empty the night soil in the past, it was really tough.
Do you know where people are still emptying night soil?
Related words
Common phrases
to empty the night soil
Common mistake
Do not use this word to describe modern waste or sewage, as it will sound extremely strange and out of place. It is strictly a historical term for the specific practice of manual collection.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
