tiu4 nin4齠年龆年
Jyutpingtiu4 nin4
Yaletìuh nìhn
Definition
Childhood years.
writtentimepeople
How it's used
Literary and formal in tone, this term is rarely used in casual spoken Cantonese. It specifically refers to the period of childhood when a child begins to lose their milk teeth. You will mostly encounter it in written essays or nostalgic descriptions rather than everyday conversation.
Examples
He loved playing in the sand during his childhood.
Do you still remember any funny stories from your childhood?
Related words
Common phrases
past events from childhood
Common mistake
Do not use this word in casual settings as it sounds overly poetic or archaic. Most native speakers prefer using 細個 or 童年 to describe childhood.
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.
