gang2耿
Jyutpinggang2
Yalegáng
Definition
Loyal, upright, and honest.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used in formal or literary compounds rather than as a standalone adjective in daily speech. It carries a sense of moral integrity and unyielding character that is highly respected in traditional values. You will rarely hear it outside of set phrases like 耿直 or 耿耿於懷.
Examples
He is a very upright person and doesn't like to lie.
One should be honest and upright, don't always think about tricking people.
Related words
Common phrases
upright and frank
to take something to heart and brood over it
Common mistake
Do not use this as a direct translation for honest in casual conversation, as it sounds overly dramatic or archaic. Use 老實 or 正直 instead for everyday situations.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
