saang1 jan4生人
Jyutpingsaang1 jan4
Yalesāang yàhn
Definition
A living person; a person who is alive.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Focuses on the biological state of being alive, often used to contrast with the dead or spirits. It frequently appears in contexts involving graveyards, ghosts, or supernatural scenarios where the presence of a living person is unexpected or out of place. The term carries a slightly detached or objective tone, emphasizing the physical existence of a person.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is still alive, how can you put him in here?
This is a graveyard, why would any living person come here?
Related words
Common phrases
to occupy space uselessly; to be in the way
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term for a stranger. In Cantonese, a stranger is called 陌生人, whereas 生人 specifically highlights the distinction between the living and the dead.
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.
