long6 jan4浪人
Jyutpinglong6 jan4
Yalelohng yàhn
Definition
Ronin; a masterless samurai who wandered during the Edo period in Japan.
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How it's used
Refers specifically to masterless samurai from Japanese history, but often used metaphorically in modern Cantonese to describe someone who is aimless, freelance, or lives a transient, unconventional lifestyle. It carries a romanticized, slightly melancholic tone of independence and detachment from societal structures.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is like a ronin, always wandering around.
Related words
Common phrases
ronin swordsman
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the term 爛人, which refers to a person of low character or a scoundrel, as the two sound very similar in spoken Cantonese.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
