gaau2皎
Jyutpinggaau2
Yalegáau
Definition
Bright and pure white.
writtendescriptionsnature
How it's used
Literary in origin, this character is rarely used as a standalone adjective in modern spoken Cantonese. It is almost exclusively encountered in compound words or poetic descriptions of light and complexion. When used colloquially, it often carries a slightly formal or descriptive flair that distinguishes it from common words like 白 or 靚.
Examples
The moon is so bright and clear tonight.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 姣, which is a common slang term meaning flirtatious or coquettish. Ensure you do not mix up the radical on the left side, as the meanings are entirely unrelated.
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.
