maan6 zoeng6 gang1 san1萬象更新万象更新
Jyutpingmaan6 zoeng6 gang1 san1
Yalemaahn jeuhng gāng sān
Definition
Everything takes on a completely new look; all things are fresh again.
writtentimefestival
How it's used
This idiom is almost exclusively reserved for the Lunar New Year period to describe the arrival of spring or the start of a new cycle. It carries a formal and auspicious tone, making it a standard choice for greetings on red packets or during festive visits. While it can describe physical renovations, using it outside of the New Year context can sound slightly dramatic or overly poetic.
Examples
New Year is here, I wish you a fresh start and good health.
After the renovation here, everything really looks brand new.
Related words
Common phrases
The year begins and everything is renewed.
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe simple daily changes or minor updates, as it implies a grand, sweeping transformation of the entire environment. It is not a casual way to say something is new.
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).
