gaa1 syu1家書家书
Jyutpinggaa1 syu1
Yalegā syū
Definition
A letter written between family members, typically to or from home.
writtenfamilycommunication
How it's used
Carries a nostalgic and slightly formal tone, often evoking the sentiment of long-distance separation. While it literally refers to correspondence between family members, it is rarely used in modern daily life due to the prevalence of instant messaging. You will mostly encounter it in literature, song lyrics, or when someone is being intentionally sentimental or dramatic.
Measure word
fung1封fūngExamples
How long has it been since you wrote a letter home?
He was very happy after receiving the letter from home.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a casual note left on the kitchen table for a roommate or family member. It specifically implies a letter sent over a significant distance, usually by post.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
