man4民
Jyutpingman4
Yalemàhn
Definition
People; the citizens or populace of a particular place.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Functions primarily as a bound morpheme in Cantonese rather than a standalone noun. It appears most frequently in compound words relating to society, government, or the general public. Unlike the English word people, it is rarely used to refer to a specific group of individuals in a casual setting.
Examples
These are traditional folk customs.
The government should listen more to public opinion.
Related words
Common phrases
public opinion
among the people; folk
people's livelihood
Common mistake
Avoid using this as a direct translation for people when referring to a specific group of humans, as it sounds overly formal or political. Use 人 or 大家 instead for everyday conversation.
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.
