tong4唐
Jyutpingtong4
Yaletòhng
Definition
Chinese; pertaining to Chinese culture or people.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to things associated with traditional Chinese culture or heritage rather than the modern nation-state. It often appears in compound nouns to distinguish traditional items from Western or modern counterparts. Using this prefix adds a sense of cultural identity and historical continuity to the object being described.
Examples
This Chinese-style shirt is beautiful, it's perfect to wear for Chinese New Year.
Related words
Common phrases
Chinese person
Common mistake
Avoid using this to refer to modern Chinese nationality or contemporary mainland China, as it carries a more traditional or ethnic connotation. For modern contexts, use 中文 or 中國 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
