zi1 sik1 cing1 nin4知識青年知识青年
Jyutpingzi1 sik1 cing1 nin4
Yalejī sīk chīng nìhn
Definition
Educated youth; young intellectuals.
datedpeopleschool
How it's used
Refers specifically to the historical context of the Down to the Countryside Movement in mainland China during the late 1960s and 1970s. It carries a strong political and nostalgic weight, often evoking memories of that era's social upheaval. In modern Hong Kong, it is rarely used to describe contemporary students or young people, as it sounds distinctly dated and tied to that specific period.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He used to be an educated youth who loved reading.
Back then, many educated youths went to the countryside to help out.
Related words
Common phrases
sent down to the countryside
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a modern university student or a well-read teenager, as it will sound like you are referring to a historical figure from the Cultural Revolution era.
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.
