wo4 soeng2和尚
Jyutpingwo4 soeng2
Yalewòh séung
Definition
Buddhist monk; a tonsured Buddhist male monastic.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to male practitioners of Buddhism who have taken monastic vows. While it is the standard term, it can sometimes carry a slightly playful or dismissive tone depending on context, especially when used in idioms or jokes about monks living in isolation.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That monk is meditating inside the temple.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term for monks of other religions, as it is strictly associated with Buddhism. For Christian clergy, use terms like 神父 or 牧師 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
