相片
soeng2 pin2
The English word 'picture' is translated into Cantonese as 相片 (soeng2 pin2).
相片 is a noun used specifically to refer to a photograph.
Meaning: photograph (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 相 (soeng2), meaning 'image/appearance' and 片 (pin2), meaning 'slice/piece/film'.
Which one should you use?
While 相片 refers specifically to a photograph, much broader terms like 畫 are used for drawings or paintings.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of taking a photograph, use the verb-object construction 影相.
How do you pronounce it?
soeng2 pin2
Did you know?
- In Cantonese, if you want to say you are 'taking a picture', you use the verb 影 (jing2), which literally means 'to cast a shadow'.
- When referring to a 'photo album', Cantonese speakers use 相簿, where 簿 refers to a ledger or account book. This suggests that photos are 'recorded' in the same way financial transactions are.
- In Hong Kong, people often use the English word 'photo' or 'pic' mixed into Cantonese sentences. This code-switching is so common that it often replaces 相片 entirely in casual youth slang.
Examples in context
- 你有冇睇過李小龍嘅相片呀？Have you seen the pictures of Bruce Lee?
- 我拍咗一張相放喺Instagram。I took a picture and posted it on Instagram.
- 我想睇吓呢啲相片。ngo5 soeng2 tai2 haa5 ni1 di1 soeng2 pin2.I want to look at these photographs.
- 你洗咗呢張相片未？nei5 sai2 zo2 ni1 zoen1 soeng2 pin2 mei6?Have you printed this photograph yet?
Example conversation
Chi Keung and Ka Yan are looking at a photo album.
- 志強 Chi Keung嘉欣，你睇吓呢張相片。Ka1 jan1, nei5 tai2 haa5 ni1 zoen1 soeng2 pin2.Ka Yan, look at this photograph.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan哇，呢張相片真係好正！waa1, ni1 zoen1 soeng2 pin2 zan1 hai6 hou2 zeng3!Wow, this photograph is really great!
- 志強 Chi Keung係呀，係我哋細個嗰陣影嘅。hai6 aa3, hai6 ngo5 dei6 sai3 go3 go2 zan3 jing2 ge3.Yeah, it was taken when we were kids.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan志強，我想印返張出嚟。Zi3 koeng4, ngo5 soeng2 jan3 faan1 zoeng1 ceot1 lai4.Chi Keung, I want to print a copy.
