caan4 gau6殘舊残旧
Jyutpingcaan4 gau6
Yalechàahn gauh
Definition
Old and shabby; dilapidated; in poor condition and in need of repair.
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How it's used
Focuses specifically on the physical state of deterioration rather than just age. It implies that an object or building has lost its original luster and requires maintenance or replacement. It is frequently used to describe furniture, buildings, or personal belongings that have seen better days.
Examples
This sofa is really shabby, why don't we replace it with a new one?
Is the furniture in your room very old and worn out?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 舊 which simply means old. 殘舊 carries a negative connotation of being in poor condition or needing repair, whereas 舊 can just mean something is not new.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
