zaau2抓
Jyutpingzaau2
Yalejáau
Definition
To claw, scratch, or grab hold of something tightly.
- to claw; to scratch
- to grab; to clutch tightly
colloquialdaily actionsbody
How it's used
Native speakers almost exclusively use 搲 instead of 抓 in spoken Cantonese for the action of scratching an itch or clawing at something. While 抓 is understood, it feels like a written or Mandarin import that sounds stiff in casual conversation. Using 搲 makes your speech sound significantly more natural and local.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse 搲 with 捉, which means to grab or catch something with your fingers or hand. While 搲 involves the nails or claws, 捉 involves the whole hand or fingers closing around an object.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
