jyun4 geoi1 man4原居民
Jyutpingjyun4 geoi1 man4
Yaleyùhn gēui màhn
Definition
Indigenous inhabitant; original resident and their descendants.
neutralpeopleplaces
How it's used
This term carries specific legal and social weight in Hong Kong, particularly regarding land rights and village house policies in the New Territories. It refers to descendants of those who were already living in the area before the British lease of the New Territories in 1898. Using it outside of this specific historical and administrative context can sound inaccurate or confusing.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is an indigenous inhabitant of the New Territories and his family owns a lot of land.
Related words
Common phrases
indigenous inhabitant of the New Territories
indigenous inhabitant representative
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general long term residents or immigrants who have lived in Hong Kong for many years. Being a permanent resident does not make one an indigenous inhabitant.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
