man4 gung1民工
Definition
Migrant worker; a laborer from rural mainland China who travels to cities for work.
How it's used
This term specifically refers to the socio-economic phenomenon of rural residents moving to urban centers for labor in mainland China. It carries a distinct nuance of social stratification and often implies a lower-income status compared to urban residents. While it is a standard term in news and formal reports, it can sometimes sound detached or slightly derogatory depending on the tone and context.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Avoid using this term to describe any blue-collar worker in Hong Kong, as it is strictly associated with the mainland Chinese hukou system and rural-to-urban migration. Using it to describe local construction workers is factually incorrect and may cause confusion.
Grammar color guide
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).
