gaai3 ceoi4戒除
Jyutpinggaai3 ceoi4
Yalegaai chèuih
Definition
To quit, give up, or rid oneself of a bad habit or behavior.
neutraldaily actionshealth
How it's used
Formal in tone compared to the everyday verb 戒. While 戒 is used for almost any habit or substance, 戒除 often appears in written contexts or when discussing serious, long-term lifestyle changes. It carries a sense of determination and finality that makes it sound more deliberate than just stopping something temporarily.
Examples
When will you finally be willing to quit this bad habit?
He has already quit the habit of smoking.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 戒除 for simple actions like stopping a game or a task, but it is specifically reserved for habits, addictions, or deep-seated behaviors. Use 停 or 唔做 for casual or momentary actions instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
