How to Say "Young" in Cantonese

年輕

Nin4 hing1

In Cantonese, the word for "young" is 年輕 (Nin4 hing1).

The term is used as an adjective to describe someone or something belonging to the early part of life.

Meaning: belonging in the early part of life (adj)

How do you pronounce it?

Nin4 hing1

In Cantonese, the word 輕 in 年輕 means 'light' in weight. This implies that youth is a state of being 'light' or unburdened by the weight of experience and responsibility.
The character 年 in 年輕 originally depicted a person carrying a harvest, linking the concept of 'years' or 'age' to the cyclical nature of agriculture.
While 年輕 is used for age, Cantonese speakers often use the word 後生 to describe young people in daily conversation. Using 年輕 can sometimes sound more formal or literary than the colloquial 後生.

肉體衰老，但係心境年輕。
Old in body but young at heart.
This sentence shows how 年輕 can be used to describe a state of mind, such as being young at heart.
Tatoeba #5734139 by nickyeow, translation #5695966 by shea
大約十五、十六年後，國王同國王喺佢哋其中一個鄉村別墅缺席，有一日年輕嘅公主喺宮入面跑嚟跑去；佢由一間房去到另一間房，最後佢嚟到塔頂嘅一個小閣樓，嗰度有個好老婆，一個人，用緊佢個軸心旋轉緊。
About fifteen or sixteen years after, the King and Queen being absent at one of their country villas, the young Princess was one day running up and down the palace, she went from room to room, and at last she came into a little garret on the top of the tower, where a good old woman, alone, was spinning with her spindle.
This sentence uses 年輕 to describe a princess.
Tatoeba #13497054 by Davidgo5867, translation #6211729 by Hybrid
我已經過咗青春嘅年紀。
I've already passed the age of youth.
16 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are looking at an old photograph.

子健 Tsz Kin

你睇，呢張相我哋好年輕。
nei5 tai2, ni1 zoeng1 soeng1 ngo5 dei6 hou2 nin4 hing1.
Look, we were so young in this photo.
美玲 Mei Ling

係呀，嗰陣時我哋仲係學生。
hai6 aa3, go2 zan6 si4 ngo5 dei6 zung6 hai6 hok6 sang1.
Yes, we were still students back then.
子健 Tsz Kin

時間真係過得好快。
si4 gaan3 zan1 hai6 gwo3 dak1 hou2 faai3.
Time really flies.
美玲 Mei Ling

但係你而家依然好年輕。
daan6 hai6 nei5 ji4 gaan3 ji1 jin4 hou2 nin4 hing1.
But you still look very young now.

Sources

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