cau1搊𫼝
Jyutpingcau1
Yalechāu
Definition
To pluck a stringed instrument, or to support someone by the arm.
- to pluck a stringed instrument
- to support someone by the arm
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
This verb is quite specific to the physical action of using fingers to pull or support. While it is standard for musical instruments, it is also frequently used in daily life to describe the act of holding someone by the arm to help them walk or stand up. It carries a sense of providing steady, physical assistance rather than just holding hands.
Examples
He likes to pluck the strings when playing the instrument.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 抽, which means to pull or draw out. While they sound similar, 搊 specifically implies the use of fingers to pluck or to support someone's arm, whereas 抽 is a more general action of pulling or extracting.
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.
