zan1 zan1 zing3 zing3真真正正

Jyutpingzan1 zan1 zing3 zing3

Yalejān jān jing jing

Definition

Real, genuine, and authentic.

colloquialdescriptions

How it's used

Doubling a two character adjective is a common way to add emphasis or intensity in Cantonese. Using 真真正正 suggests a higher degree of authenticity or sincerity than just saying 真. It often implies that something previously considered real was actually questionable or superficial.

Examples

ni1呢go3個sin1先hai6係zan1真zan1真zing3正zing3正ge3嘅hoeng1香gong2港mei6味dou6道。

This is the truly authentic taste of Hong Kong.

nei5你gei2幾si4時sin1先hang2肯zan1真zan1真zing3正zing3正heoi3去wan2搵fan2份gung1工aa4呀？

When will you finally get serious about finding a job?

Common phrases

zan1真zan1真zing3正zing3正ge3嘅jan4人

a real person

zan1真zan1真zing3正zing3正gam3咁zou6做

to do something for real

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this as a direct translation for the adverb really, but it functions primarily as an adjective or an adverbial modifier for verbs of action. It does not replace the common adverb 好 or 真係 in casual speech.