diu3吊
Jyutpingdiu3
Yalediu
Definition
To hang or suspend; to lift or let down using a rope.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of hanging something, this verb is frequently used in construction or moving heavy items to mean hoisting or lifting with a crane or pulley. It carries a sense of gravity and suspension, often implying that the object is dangling freely rather than being supported from underneath. In some contexts, it can also refer to the act of hanging a person, though this is a much darker and less common usage.
Examples
He hung a lantern from the ceiling.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to mean hanging clothes on a rack or a hanger, for which the verb 晾 is the standard choice. Using 吊 for laundry sounds like you are suspending the clothes from the ceiling by a rope.
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.
