san1 waa4 tung1 seon3 se5新華通訊社新华通讯社
Jyutpingsan1 waa4 tung1 seon3 se5
Yalesān wàh tūng seun séh
Definition
Xinhua News Agency, the official state press agency of the People's Republic of China.
colloquialplaces
How it's used
Historically, this name referred to the Xinhua News Agency, but in Hong Kong, it is widely used as a shorthand for the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government. Even though the official name changed years ago, many older residents still use this term out of habit. It carries a specific political weight and is rarely used in casual conversation unless discussing government affairs or locations.
Examples
He works at the Liaison Office.
Do you know where the Liaison Office is?
Related words
Common phrases
go to the Liaison Office
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the actual news agency, which is also known by the same name in other regions. Using this term to refer to the Liaison Office is a local convention that might confuse people outside of Hong Kong.
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.
