siu3 lam4少林
Jyutpingsiu3 lam4
Yalesiu làhm
Definition
Shaolin, referring to the Shaolin Temple or the Shaolin school of Chinese martial arts.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
Beyond the physical temple in Henan, the term is frequently used in popular culture to refer to the entire martial arts tradition associated with the monks. It carries a strong cultural weight, often evoking images of discipline, legendary strength, and historical mystery in Hong Kong cinema. You will hear it used as a shorthand for any style of fighting that claims lineage from the monastery.
Examples
He really liked watching Shaolin martial arts movies when he was young.
Do you know where the Shaolin Temple is?
Related words
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
