saan3 bing1傘兵伞兵
Jyutpingsaan3 bing1
Yalesaan bīng
Definition
Paratrooper; airborne troops dropped by parachute from transport aircraft.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
Beyond the literal military meaning, this term is frequently used in Hong Kong political discourse as a derogatory label for political newcomers who appear suddenly in a district to run for election without deep local roots. It implies that these candidates were dropped into the area by a higher authority rather than having cultivated the community themselves. The term carries a strong sense of being an outsider or an uninvited presence.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He was a paratrooper before, he is very brave.
When will that unit of paratroopers parachute down?
Related words
Common phrases
paratrooper unit
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the common word 遮 for umbrella, even though the first character is the same. Using 傘兵 to describe someone carrying an umbrella will be completely misunderstood.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
