fan1 bou3分佈分布
Jyutpingfan1 bou3
Yalefān bou
Definition
To be distributed, dispersed, or spread across an area.
neutralother
How it's used
Focuses on the spatial arrangement or geographical spread of items rather than the act of handing things out. It is commonly used in formal reports, academic descriptions, or news, making it sound slightly more sophisticated than everyday conversational verbs. When describing people or objects in a casual setting, speakers often prefer using descriptive phrases like 散開或者周圍都有.
Examples
These shops are distributed across all districts in Hong Kong.
Do you know how this type of plant is distributed?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word when you mean to distribute or hand out items to people, as that requires the verb 派. Learners often confuse the geographical sense of distribution with the act of giving things away.
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.
