dou2堵
Jyutpingdou2
Yaledóu
Definition
To block, obstruct, or clog.
colloquialdaily actionstransport
How it's used
While 堵 is understood in Cantonese, it is significantly less common than 塞 in everyday speech. Speakers almost exclusively use 塞 when referring to traffic jams or clogged drains. Using 堵 often sounds slightly more formal or literary, leaning closer to written Chinese than natural spoken Cantonese.
Examples
Why do you have to block the doorway?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 堵 interchangeably with 塞, but 塞 is the default choice for almost all physical obstructions in daily life. Using 堵 in casual conversation can make you sound like you are reading from a news report or a formal document.
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.
