kan4 fan5勤奮勤奋
Jyutpingkan4 fan5
Yalekàhn fáhn
Definition
Diligent, hardworking, and assiduous.
neutralworkschool
How it's used
While this term describes a positive trait of working hard, it is primarily used in formal or written contexts rather than casual conversation. In everyday speech, locals prefer using 勤力 to describe someone who is hardworking. Using 勤奮 in a casual setting can make you sound like you are reading from a textbook or giving a formal speech.
Examples
He studies very diligently and always gets first place.
You are so diligent, you will definitely succeed.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 勤力, but 勤力 is the standard colloquial choice for describing people, whereas 勤奮 carries a more academic or literary tone.
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.
