tung4童
Jyutpingtung4
Yaletùhng
Definition
A child or kid; a person who is not yet mature.
neutralpeople
How it's used
童 is a bound morpheme that rarely stands alone in modern spoken Cantonese. It primarily functions as a prefix or suffix in compound words related to youth, innocence, or childhood. Unlike the common spoken terms 細路 or 小朋友, you will mostly encounter this in formal contexts, store signage, or specific literary descriptions.
Examples
There are many children's clothes for sale here.
They still have a childlike heart.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 童 as a standalone noun to refer to a child in daily conversation, as it sounds archaic or overly formal. Always prefer 細路 or 小朋友 when speaking naturally.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
