naam4 zi2 hon3男子漢男子汉
Jyutpingnaam4 zi2 hon3
Yalenàahm jí hon
Definition
A real man; a manly, masculine, and steadfast male.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Carries a strong connotation of traditional masculinity, often implying bravery, resilience, and emotional stoicism. It is frequently used in idioms or dramatic contexts to praise someone for standing their ground or taking responsibility. While it describes a man, it is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation to simply refer to a male person, as it carries a heavy weight of character expectation.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He really is a man of integrity and courage.
A real man should be tough and not cry easily.
Related words
Common phrases
upright and fearless
bleed but do not shed tears
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a random male person you see on the street, as it specifically highlights the quality of being a 'manly man' rather than just biological sex. Using it to describe a boy or a man who is gentle or sensitive may sound sarcastic or outdated.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
