kwan4羣
Jyutpingkwan4
Yalekwàhn
Definition
A group of people or animals; a crowd, flock, herd, or pack.
neutralpeopleanimals
How it's used
While 羣 is the standard character for a group or crowd, it is frequently replaced in modern colloquial Cantonese by 班 or 堆 depending on the context. Using 羣 often carries a slightly more formal or literary tone compared to the very common 班. It is most naturally used when referring to animals, such as 羣雀 or 羣馬, or when describing a specific, collective group of people in a more descriptive sense.
Examples
There is a flock of sheep eating grass over there.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 羣 as a direct substitute for 班, but 班 is much more versatile for groups of people. Using 羣 for a group of friends can sound slightly poetic or old-fashioned, whereas 班 is the standard choice for everyday speech.
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.
