naam4 joeng2南洋
Jyutpingnaam4 joeng2
Yalenàahm yéung
Definition
Nanyang; a term referring to Southeast Asia, including countries south of China such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
neutralplacestravel
How it's used
Historical usage often carries a nostalgic or colonial nuance, frequently appearing in the context of migration patterns during the early 20th century. It acts as a broad geographical umbrella term rather than a precise political designation, reflecting how people in the region historically viewed the lands to their south.
Examples
His family used to do business in Nanyang.
Do you know where exactly Nanyang refers to?
Related words
Common phrases
Nanyang style
to go down to Nanyang (for work or migration)
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
