taa1 hoeng1他鄉他乡
Jyutpingtaa1 hoeng1
Yaletā hēung
Definition
A place far away from one's home town, such as a foreign place or country.
neutralplaces
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of emotional distance and nostalgia, often implying a feeling of loneliness or being an outsider. It is frequently used in literary or slightly sentimental contexts rather than in casual, practical descriptions of travel. The phrase 他鄉遇故知 is a classic idiom that captures the profound relief and joy of encountering someone familiar while far from home.
Examples
He lives in a foreign place all by himself and misses home a lot.
Were you pleasantly surprised to run into an old classmate in a foreign place?
Related words
Common phrases
meeting an old friend in a foreign land
wandering in a foreign land
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to describe a simple holiday destination or a nearby city. It specifically refers to a place that feels culturally or geographically remote from one's roots, making it inappropriate for casual trips.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
