san1 duk6身毒
Jyutpingsan1 duk6
Yalesān duhk
Definition
Sindhu, an ancient name for India.
datedother
How it's used
Historical texts often use this term to refer to the Indus River region or ancient India. It is rarely encountered in modern spoken Cantonese and is mostly restricted to academic or literary discussions regarding historical geography. Using it in everyday conversation will likely cause confusion as it sounds archaic and unfamiliar to most native speakers.
Examples
People in the past used to call India Sindhu.
Do you know where Sindhu refers to?
Related words
Common phrases
The country of Sindhu
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the modern term 印度, which is the standard and only appropriate word for India in contemporary language. Using 身毒 in a modern context will sound extremely bizarre or like you are quoting an ancient text.
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.
