cung1充
Jyutpingcung1
Yalechūng
Definition
To fill; to charge.
colloquialtechnologymoney
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of filling or charging, this character is frequently used in the phrase 充大頭鬼 to describe someone who acts wealthy or generous to save face despite lacking the means. It carries a slightly critical tone when used in this metaphorical sense. Note that for charging electronic devices, it is often used with the object 嘅電 or just as a verb phrase.
Examples
My phone is out of battery, I need to charge it for a while first.
He always pretends to be rich, but actually he has no money.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 裝, which is used for putting things into a container. While 充 implies filling to capacity or acting as a substitute, 裝 is simply the act of placing items inside.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
