min6 saang1面生
Jyutpingmin6 saang1
Yalemihn sāang
Definition
To look unfamiliar or to be a stranger.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes a person whose face you do not recognize, implying you have not met them before. It is specifically used for people, unlike general terms for unfamiliar things or places. It carries a slightly formal or literary undertone despite being used in daily speech, often appearing when someone is trying to identify a stranger in a familiar environment.
Examples
They look unfamiliar, I don't think they live around here.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 陌生, which is a broader term for anything unknown or strange. 面生 is strictly reserved for a person's appearance, whereas 陌生 can describe a place, a language, or a person you have never encountered before.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
