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Yalelìhng yàhn
Definition
An actor or performer of traditional Chinese opera.
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How it's used
Refers specifically to actors in traditional Chinese opera rather than modern stage or film actors. It carries a slightly formal or historical tone, as it is rarely used to describe contemporary performers. You will mostly encounter this term in historical contexts or when discussing the cultural heritage of Cantonese opera.
Measure word
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Performers in the past had a very difficult life.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word for modern actors or celebrities, as it sounds archaic and specifically implies a background in traditional performance arts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).



