neoi5 jan4女人
Jyutpingneoi5 jan4
Yalenéuih yàhn
Definition
Woman; an adult female.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to an adult female, distinguishing it from 女仔 which is used for girls or young women. Using it to address a stranger directly can sound blunt or impolite, so it is safer to use terms like 小姐 when speaking to someone you do not know. It is often used in general statements about gender roles or characteristics.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That woman is my colleague.
Related words
Common phrases
femininity
a man who is always surrounded by women
Common mistake
Avoid using it as a direct address for a stranger, as it can come across as rude or aggressive. Use 小姐 instead to be polite.
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.
