nung4儂侬
Jyutpingnung4
Yalenùhng
Definition
You (primarily in Wu dialects); also a family name.
- literaryyou
- a family name
datedpeople
How it's used
Borrowing from Wu dialects, this pronoun is rarely used in standard Hong Kong Cantonese. It is primarily encountered in literary contexts, artistic performances, or by speakers who have roots in Shanghai or surrounding regions. Using it in daily life will sound highly unusual or affected to a local ear.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Cantonese pronoun 你. While they share the same meaning, 儂 is not part of the native Cantonese lexicon and will be misunderstood or viewed as a deliberate stylistic choice rather than standard speech.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
