sang1 bou2 jan4生保人
Jyutpingsang1 bou2 jan4
Yalesāng bóu yàhn
Definition
A stranger; someone who is unfamiliar.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to someone you have never met before or do not recognize. It carries a sense of unfamiliarity that can imply caution or distance, unlike the more neutral term 陌生人. It is frequently used by parents to warn children about interacting with people outside their social circle.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That person is a stranger, don't talk to them.
Why would you go out with a stranger?
Related words
Common phrases
a complete stranger
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 熟人, which refers to an acquaintance or someone you know well. Using it to describe someone you have met once or twice is inaccurate, as it implies a total lack of prior connection.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
