cou4曹
Jyutpingcou4
Yalechòuh
Definition
A Chinese surname, commonly transliterated as Cao, Tso, or Cho.
neutralpeople
How it's used
This surname is almost exclusively encountered in formal contexts like business correspondence or official documents. In casual speech, it is common to refer to someone by their surname followed by a title like 生 or 小姐. Because it is a surname, it does not function as a common noun and lacks specific collocations or measure words.
Examples
Will Mr. Tso be coming to work today?
I have a friend surnamed Tso who lives in Sha Tin.
Related words
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
