zung1 fei1中非
Jyutpingzung1 fei1
Yalejūng fēi
Definition
Central African Republic
neutralplaces
How it's used
Geographic names in Cantonese often drop the full suffix like 共和國 in casual speech. While 中非 is the standard short form, it is rarely used in daily conversation due to the country's relative obscurity to most Hong Kong residents. When referring to the region rather than the specific country, speakers usually use 非洲中部 instead to avoid ambiguity.
Examples
He will travel to the Central African Republic next month.
Do you know where the Central African Republic is?
Related words
Common phrases
Central African Republic
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the general region of Central Africa, which is referred to as 非洲中部. Using 中非 in a sentence without context might lead listeners to think you are referring to the country specifically.
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.
