dau3鬥斗
Jyutpingdau3
Yaledau
Definition
To touch or handle someone's belongings.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
This term is primarily used in spoken Cantonese to describe light or brief physical contact with an object. It often carries a sense of warning or prohibition, especially when someone is told not to interfere with another person's belongings. It is more informal and tactile than the standard word 掂.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 鬥, which means to compete or fight. While they share the same character, the meaning of touching is strictly colloquial and context dependent.
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.
