ngan4銀银
Jyutpingngan4
Yalengàhn
Definition
Cash, money, or coins.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
Refers specifically to physical cash or coins rather than digital balances or bank deposits. While it can mean money in a general sense, it is often used to emphasize the tangible nature of currency. It carries a slightly more informal or traditional feel compared to the more standard 錢.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Do you still have any cash on you?
I only have a few coins left in my wallet.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it refers to silver or the metal itself, as in Cantonese it is almost exclusively used for currency. Using it to describe the metal silver will likely cause confusion.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
