saang1 bou2 jan4生暴人
Jyutpingsaang1 bou2 jan4
Yalesāang bóu yàhn
Definition
Stranger; an unfamiliar person.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
This term is used to describe someone completely unknown or unfamiliar to the speaker. It carries a sense of distance and potential caution, often implying that the person is an outsider to one's social circle or neighborhood. It is distinct from 陌生人, which is the standard term found in formal writing or news reports.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
There are many strangers here, be careful.
Why are you talking to a stranger?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 陌生人. While 陌生人 is universally understood and neutral, 生暴人 is much more colloquial and carries a stronger nuance of being an 'unfamiliar face' in a specific local context.
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.
