fai1 sau2揮手挥手
Jyutpingfai1 sau2
Yalefāi sáu
Definition
To wave one's hand, typically as a polite gesture or to say goodbye.
colloquialdaily actionscommunication
How it's used
Using this verb often implies a friendly or polite gesture to acknowledge someone from a distance. It is commonly paired with particles like 呀 or 㗎 to soften the tone when giving a reminder or describing an action. Unlike formal written Chinese, Cantonese speakers frequently use it to describe the act of hailing a taxi as well.
Examples
He waved to greet me as soon as he saw me.
Remember to wave when you leave.
Related words
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.
