aa3亞亚
Jyutpingaa3
Yalea
Definition
Second; second place; runner-up.
neutralnumbers
How it's used
Primarily functions as a prefix for rankings or titles, indicating the second position in a sequence. It is rarely used as a standalone word in modern speech, appearing almost exclusively in compound nouns like 亞軍 or 亞熱帶. When referring to someone being second in a race or contest, always use 亞軍 rather than trying to use 亞 on its own.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 亞 as a standalone adjective for second, but it is a bound morpheme that requires a noun to form a complete concept.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
