cai1棲栖
Jyutpingcai1
Yalechāi
Definition
To stay, reside, or dwell at a place.
writtenanimalsplaces
How it's used
Primarily found in formal or literary contexts, this character is rarely used in casual spoken Cantonese. It often appears in compound words like 棲息 or 棲身 to describe animals nesting or humans finding a place to live. Using it in everyday speech might sound overly poetic or archaic.
Examples
The birds are resting, perched on the tree.
They are staying in this small apartment.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to mean staying in a hotel or visiting a friend, as it implies a more permanent or natural state of dwelling or perching. For casual staying, use 留 or 住 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
