sai1 jan4西人
Jyutpingsai1 jan4
Yalesāi yàhn
Definition
Westerner, typically referring to a Caucasian person.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to Caucasian people regardless of their actual country of origin. It is a neutral descriptive term in most contexts, though it can sound blunt or informal depending on the speaker's tone. Avoid using it in formal professional settings where terms like 外國人 are more appropriate.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That westerner speaks Cantonese very fluently.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the Mandarin term 西人 which can have different historical or religious connotations. In Cantonese, it is strictly a colloquial label for white people and should not be used to describe people of other ethnicities from the West.
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.
