gat1吉
Jyutpinggat1
Yalegāt
Definition
Auspicious, lucky, or associated with good fortune.
neutralother
How it's used
Often found in set phrases related to traditional festivals or business openings, this character conveys a sense of positive energy and good fortune. It is rarely used as a standalone adjective in daily speech, appearing almost exclusively within compound words like 吉利 or 大吉. When used in a business context, it emphasizes the hope for prosperity and smooth operations.
Examples
This name sounds very auspicious and pleasant to the ears.
Tomorrow is the grand opening, remember to come and support us.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Cantonese word 吉, which is pronounced as gat1 and means empty or vacant, such as in 吉位 or 吉屋. The auspicious meaning is typically pronounced as gat1 in formal compound words, but learners often mistake the two because the written character is identical.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
