gaa1枷
Jyutpinggaa1
Yalegā
Definition
Cangue; a heavy wooden collar used in ancient China to restrain and punish criminals.
neutralother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the heavy wooden frame used for public punishment in imperial China. Beyond the historical object, it is frequently used metaphorically to describe heavy burdens, social constraints, or situations that make a person feel trapped and unable to act freely.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
In ancient times, criminals had to wear a cangue and be paraded through the streets.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 夾, which means to clip or squeeze. While both involve restriction, 枷 is strictly the historical punishment device or a metaphor for heavy psychological or social shackles.
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.
