本人
I (Formal)
本人 (bun2 jan4) is the formal equivalent of 我 (ngo5). It is used when you need to sound official, such as in legal declarations, business contracts, or formal public apologies.
How It Works
In Cantonese, while 我 (ngo5) is the universal word for 'I,' it is often considered too informal for official documentation or high-stakes professional settings. 本人 (bun2 jan4) fills this gap.
Key characteristics include:
- Register: It belongs to the written/formal register. While common in documents, it is also spoken in courtrooms, press conferences, and formal speeches.
- Singular Only: Unlike standard pronouns, it cannot take the plural suffix 哋 (dei6). You cannot say '本人哋'. To refer to 'we' formally, one might use '本公司' (bun2 gung1 si1 - this company) or '我等' (ngo5 dang2).
- Identity Focus: It emphasizes that the speaker is the specific individual responsible for the statement, often used in phrases like 'I hereby declare' or 'I sincerely apologize.'
- Dual Meaning: Be aware that 本人 can also mean 'in person' (e.g., 你本人 nei5 bun2 jan4 - 'you in person'). The 'I' function is a specific self-referential use.
Examples (4)
- 本人謹代表公司致歉。
I sincerely apologize on behalf of the company.
Word by Word: This-person sincerely represent company send-apology.
Used in a formal speech or letter to provide a professional tone.
- 本人特此聲明，以上資料全部屬實。
I hereby declare that all the above information is true.
Word by Word: This-person specially-this declare, above data all belong-truth.
Standard phrasing found at the bottom of government or legal forms.
- 如本人蓄意提供不正確資料，將有被檢控的可能。
If I intentionally provide incorrect information, I may be liable to prosecution.
Word by Word: If this-person intentionally provide not-correct data, will have by-prosecute possessive possibility.
A common legal warning found in official applications.
- 呢件事本人唔清楚。
I am not clear about this matter.
Word by Word: This item matter this-person not clear.
Used in a professional setting (like a meeting or inquiry) to sound objective and formal.
Common Mistakes
Using 本人 in casual conversation with friends.
本人想同你一齊食飯。我想同你一齊食飯。Using 本人 in a social setting makes you sound bizarrely stiff, arrogant, or like you are reading a legal contract.
Adding the plural suffix 哋 (dei6) to make 'we'.
本人哋聽日會到。我哋聽日會到。本人 is strictly singular and cannot be pluralized with 哋. Use 我哋 (ngo5 dei6) or a formal collective noun like 本公司 (bun2 gung1 si1) instead.
How It Connects
Learn This First
本人 is a formal first-person pronoun used in official statements, legal contexts, or formal declarations. To use it, learners should already be familiar with basic pronouns, the concept of formal versus colloquial registers, and basic sentence structure.
- 我/你/佢Basic Pronouns
Understanding basic personal pronouns is essential before learning formal variants like 本人.
Level 1 - Written Cantonese
本人 is a formal term often associated with written or high-register spoken Cantonese, requiring an awareness of register differences.
Foundations - Word Order Basics
Knowing where a subject (the first person pronoun) fits in a sentence is necessary to use this formal pronoun correctly.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- Spoken vs written register
本人 is a prime example of the 'Written/Formal' register used in official Cantonese contexts.
Level 5 - 哋Pronoun Plural Suffix
The plural suffix used for standard pronouns but forbidden for use with 本人.
Level 1 - 閣下You (Honorific)
The formal/honorific equivalent of 'you' (nei5), often used alongside 本人 in formal correspondence.
Level 6 - 特此Hereby
A formal adverb meaning 'hereby' that frequently appears in sentences starting with 本人.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice 本人 in Bubblegum
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