soeng4 ngo4嫦娥
Jyutpingsoeng4 ngo4
Yalesèuhng ngòh
Definition
Chang'e, the Chinese goddess of the Moon who in legend flew to the moon after drinking the elixir of immortality.
neutralfestivalpeople
How it's used
Referencing this figure is almost exclusively tied to the Mid-Autumn Festival. While the mythological background is well known, the name is also used metaphorically to describe a woman of exceptional, ethereal beauty. It carries a classical, poetic connotation that distinguishes it from modern slang terms for attractive people.
Examples
zung1中cau1秋zit3節go2嗰zan6陣，nei5你wui2會m4唔wui2會gong2講soeng4嫦ngo4娥koi3嘅gu3故si6事bei3畀siu2小pang4朋jau5友teng1聽aa1呀？
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, will you tell the story of Chang'e to the children?
Related words
Common phrases
Chang'e flies to the moon
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
