kim4 sau2黔首
Jyutpingkim4 sau2
Yalekìhm sáu
Definition
The common people, especially as referred to in ancient China.
writtenpeople
How it's used
This term is strictly literary and historical, originating from the Qin dynasty to denote the common people who wore black head coverings. It is never used in modern spoken Cantonese to describe actual people. You will only encounter it when reading classical texts or watching historical dramas set in ancient China.
Examples
In ancient times, the common people were called Qian Shou.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this term in modern contexts to mean ordinary people, which sounds extremely unnatural and archaic. Use 平民 or 市民 instead for everyday conversation.
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.
