sin1 bei1鮮卑鲜卑
Jyutpingsin1 bei1
Yalesīn bēi
Definition
Xianbei, an ancient nomadic people of northern China and Mongolia.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Historical terms like this are almost exclusively used in academic or formal contexts rather than daily speech. When discussing the Xianbei, it is common to mention their role in the Northern Wei dynasty, which is a major turning point in Chinese history. Unlike modern ethnic groups, this term refers to a historical entity that has long since assimilated into the broader Chinese population.
Examples
History books say the Xianbei were an ancient northern people.
Do you know which dynasty the Xianbei people established?
Related words
Grammar color guide
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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.
