saan1山
Jyutpingsaan1
Yalesāan
Definition
Mountain or hill.
neutralnaturedaily actions
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of a physical mountain, this word frequently appears in compound nouns related to nature and outdoor activities. It is also used in metaphorical expressions to describe large quantities or piles of objects. When referring to a specific peak, it is almost always paired with the classifier 座.
Measure word
zo2座jóExamples
Shall we go hiking together tomorrow?
That mountain is very high; it takes a long time to climb up.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the verb 爬 which specifically means to climb or crawl. While you can climb a mountain, you would use 行山 for the activity of hiking regardless of the incline.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
