syu1 jyun2書院书院
Definition
College, school, or a constituent college within a university system.
- school, college, or educational institution
- a constituent residential or educational college of a university
How it's used
While often used to refer to specific colleges within universities like the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the term is also historically used in the names of some secondary schools. It carries a slightly more traditional or formal academic feel compared to the generic school term 學府 or 學校. In a university context, it often implies a residential community that provides pastoral care and extracurricular activities beyond just classroom learning.
Measure word
gaan1間gānExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse it with generic schools, but it is specifically used for tertiary institutions or prestigious secondary schools that include the term in their official name. Do not use it to refer to a standard primary school or a generic classroom setting.
Grammar color guide
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.
