gau3 zai3救濟救济
Jyutpinggau3 zai3
Yalegau jai
Definition
To provide financial or material aid to people in need; to relieve or succor.
neutralmoneypeople
How it's used
Focuses on formal or institutional aid rather than casual, personal assistance between friends. It implies a structured effort to alleviate suffering, often involving government agencies or large charitable organizations. Using it to describe helping a friend with a small personal favor sounds overly dramatic or bureaucratic.
Examples
The government will provide relief to families who cannot afford to eat.
How do you plan to provide relief to these disaster victims?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 幫手, which is the general, everyday term for helping someone. Using 救濟 for a simple act like helping a friend move house or lending them a small amount of money sounds like you are treating them as a charity case.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
