lou6 jan4路人
Jyutpinglou6 jan4
Yalelouh yành
Definition
Passer-by
colloquialpeopleplaces
How it's used
Often used in a metaphorical sense to describe someone who is irrelevant or uninvolved in a situation. It implies a lack of connection to the speaker or the event being discussed, similar to the concept of a bystander. In online slang, it can also refer to someone who is not a fan of a particular celebrity or group.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
keoi5 zi2 hai6 go3 lou6 jan4 m4 hou2 lei5 keoi5 laa1
佢只係個路人，唔好理佢啦。
He is just a passerby, don't mind him.
nei5 man6 lou6 jan4 zi1 m4 zi1 bin1 dou6 jau5 ci3 so2 mei6 aa4
你問路人知唔知邊度有廁所未呀？
Have you asked a passerby if they know where the toilet is?
Related words
Common phrases
lou6 jan4 gaap3
路人甲
an extra in a movie or a random, nameless person
Common mistake
Avoid using this to mean a person you are walking with, as it strictly refers to strangers or people passing by. If you want to refer to someone you are walking with, use 朋友 or 同伴 instead.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
