zik6 man4殖民
Jyutpingzik6 man4
Yalejihk màhn
Definition
To colonize; to establish a colony over another territory and deprive it of independence.
neutralother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the historical and political act of establishing control over a foreign territory. It carries a strong negative connotation in modern discourse, often associated with exploitation and the loss of local sovereignty. While used in academic or historical discussions, it is rarely used in casual daily conversation unless discussing history or politics.
Examples
Back then, many countries went to colonize Africa.
Do you know which country colonized this place?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse the verb 殖民 with the noun 殖民地, which means colony. Learners sometimes mistakenly use 殖民 as a noun to describe a place, but it must function as a verb or part of a compound noun.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
