joeng4 gaan1陽間阳间
Jyutpingjoeng4 gaan1
Yaleyèuhng gāan
Definition
The world of the living; the mortal world.
colloquialother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the physical realm inhabited by humans, contrasting directly with the spiritual or afterlife realm known as 陰間. It is frequently invoked in contexts involving ghosts, spirits, or supernatural folklore, but can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who is detached from reality or acting as if they are in a different world.
Examples
Why are you so unhappy? There are still many good things to eat in the world of the living.
It is like he has returned to the world of the living, completely ignoring what is happening here.
Related words
Common phrases
life in the mortal world
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 人間, which also refers to the human world but lacks the specific spiritual contrast with the afterlife that 陽間 carries.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
