pou2 tung1 pang4 jau5普通朋友
Jyutpingpou2 tung1 pang4 jau5
Yalepóu tūng pàhng yáuh
Definition
An ordinary or casual friend, as opposed to a close friend or romantic partner.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Distinguishing between a close friend and a regular friend is a common social boundary in Hong Kong. Using this term often implies a polite way to distance oneself from someone who might be interested in a romantic relationship or to clarify that the bond is not intimate. It carries a neutral tone but can sound dismissive if used to describe someone you have known for a long time.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
They are just regular friends, don't overthink it.
Are you very close with them or just regular friends?
Related words
Common phrases
just regular friends
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a close friend, as it can sound cold or like you are trying to hide the depth of your relationship. If you want to emphasize that someone is not a stranger but not a best friend, this is the perfect middle ground.
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.
