gaa1咖
Jyutpinggaa1
Yalegā
Definition
Phonetic character used in words related to coffee or class.
- used in transliterations, especially for coffee
- slangcaste, class, or grade
colloquialdrink
How it's used
Refers specifically to the drink coffee when used as a noun in daily speech. It is a direct phonetic borrowing from English, often appearing in casual settings or on menus. While it can also mean grade or rank in certain contexts, those uses are significantly less common than the beverage sense.
Measure word
bui1杯būiExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid confusing this with the particle 㗎, which is used at the end of sentences to indicate a tone of explanation or emphasis. Beginners often mistake the two because they sound similar in rapid speech.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
