fong3 hei3放棄放弃
Jyutpingfong3 hei3
Yalefong hei
Definition
To give up; to abandon or stop persisting in an action.
neutraldaily actionsemotion
How it's used
Focuses on the cessation of effort or pursuit, often carrying a slightly negative or defeated connotation. While it functions similarly to the Mandarin term, it is frequently paired with particles like 啦 or 㗎 to soften the tone when encouraging someone not to quit. It is a standard term used across both formal and informal contexts.
Examples
Has he already given up on the plan?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse it with 鬆手, which implies letting go of something physically or metaphorically in a more casual sense, whereas 放棄 implies a deliberate decision to stop pursuing a goal or responsibility.
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.
