caau2 gaa3吵架
Jyutpingcaau2 gaa3
Yalecháau ga
Definition
To quarrel, wrangle, or have a verbal argument.
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
While 吵架 is understood in Hong Kong, it is considered a Mandarin-influenced term. Locals almost exclusively use 鬧交 in daily speech to describe verbal conflict. Using 鬧交 sounds much more natural and authentic in a Cantonese context.
Related words
Common phrases
to have a quarrel with someone
to have a very heated argument
Common mistake
Learners often use 吵架 because they see it in textbooks, but it can sound slightly stiff or formal to a native speaker. Stick to 鬧交 for casual conversation to avoid sounding like you are reading from a script.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
