bou2 jau6保佑
Jyutpingbou2 jau6
Yalebóu yauh
Definition
To bless or protect, usually by deities or ancestors bringing safety and good fortune.
neutralother
How it's used
Used primarily in the context of praying to deities, spirits, or ancestors for protection and good fortune. It carries a sense of spiritual reliance and is frequently invoked during temple visits or when someone is facing a difficult situation. It is not used to describe human-to-human help, which would instead use words like 幫忙 or 照顧.
Examples
I hope the deities bless us with safety.
You must bless them so they can pass the exam smoothly.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to describe a person helping another person, as it is strictly reserved for supernatural or divine intervention.
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.
