gaai2 gau3解救
Jyutpinggaai2 gau3
Yalegáai gau
Definition
To rescue, save, or deliver someone or something from danger, crisis, or difficulty.
neutralother
How it's used
Focuses on resolving a difficult situation or crisis rather than physically pulling someone out of danger, which would typically be expressed as 救. It often appears in formal contexts like news reports or discussions about economic or social problems. When used in everyday speech, it frequently implies finding a way out of a predicament or a social blunder.
Examples
How is he going to rescue this awkward situation?
This method might not be able to resolve the current crisis.
Related words
Common phrases
to resolve a crisis
to break out of a deadlock
Common mistake
Avoid using this to mean saving a person from immediate physical harm, such as pulling someone out of a fire or a pool. In those cases, use 救 or 救返.
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.
