ngoi6 gwok3 jan4外國人外国人
Jyutpingngoi6 gwok3 jan4
Yalengoih gwok yàhn
Definition
Foreigner; a person from another country.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Refers broadly to anyone from outside Hong Kong, though in casual speech it is frequently used specifically to describe white or Western people. It carries a neutral tone but can sometimes feel slightly distancing depending on the context of the conversation. When referring to someone from a specific country, it is more natural to use the country name followed by 人.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Many foreigners live around here.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term to describe someone whose nationality you know, as it can sound overly generalized or impersonal. It is better to use specific terms like 美國人 or 日本人 when the person's background is clear.
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.
