cou2 cong3草創草创
Jyutpingcou2 cong3
Yalechóu chong
Definition
To start to establish or found; the initial stage of an enterprise.
- to start to establish; to found
- an initial stage of an enterprise
writtenworkother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the arduous, early phase of building something from scratch. It carries a sense of pioneering effort and often implies that the foundation is still rough or incomplete. While it can be used as a verb, it is more commonly encountered in formal or written contexts to describe the inception of an organization or a movement.
Examples
The company had a really tough time during its initial startup phase.
They have initiated a new project.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with everyday verbs like 開始 or 搞. Using 草創 in casual conversation can sound overly dramatic or literary, as it implies a sense of historical or significant founding rather than just starting a simple task.
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.
