gaak3 jin4格言
Jyutpinggaak3 jin4
Yalegaak yìhn
Definition
A proverb, motto, or maxim; a concise and philosophical saying.
neutralcommunication
How it's used
Refers specifically to concise, wise sayings that carry moral or philosophical weight. While technically a noun, it is almost exclusively used in formal or literary contexts rather than casual street talk. When speaking informally, people are much more likely to use the phrase 金句 to describe a memorable or impactful quote.
Measure word
geoi3句geuiExamples
This motto makes a lot of sense, I always keep it in mind.
Which famous person's quote do you like the most?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with everyday advice or casual comments, as it implies a level of gravitas or historical wisdom. Using it to describe a simple piece of advice or a common opinion will sound overly dramatic or unnatural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
