gaau4 gaau2 zyu1覺覺豬觉觉猪
Jyutpinggaau4 gaau2 zyu1
Yalegàauh gáau jyū
Definition
To go to sleep; used with children or to sound cute.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Reduplication of the final character is a common strategy in Cantonese to soften the tone and create a cutesy, child-directed register. Using this term with adults outside of a romantic or playful context can sound patronizing or overly infantile. It functions primarily as a verb phrase rather than a noun.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in professional or serious settings, as it carries a strong baby-talk connotation that can be perceived as mocking if directed at an adult who is not a partner.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
