cai3砌
Jyutpingcai3
Yalechai
Definition
To build, put together, or assemble separate parts into a whole.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
Beyond the literal sense of building or assembling, this verb is frequently used in slang to mean fighting or beating someone up. It carries a slightly aggressive or rough connotation when used in that context. In professional or formal settings, you might prefer using 組裝 for assembling electronics or furniture.
Examples
Kids really like building with blocks.
Related words
Common phrases
to build with blocks
to assemble a model kit
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 疊, which refers to stacking things vertically. While you might stack blocks, 砌 implies the active process of fitting pieces together to create a structure.
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).
