joeng6壤
Jyutpingjoeng6
Yaleyeuhng
Definition
Soil, or by extension, land.
writtennature
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used in formal or literary contexts as a bound morpheme. It rarely appears as a standalone noun in daily speech, where people prefer using 泥 or 泥土. When used figuratively, it often appears in compound words relating to national or regional identity.
Examples
The soil here is very fertile.
They want to develop on this land.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for 壞, as the characters look visually similar. Ensure you distinguish the radical on the left, as 壤 uses the earth radical while 壞 uses the soil radical but has a different right-hand component.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
