gau3媾
Jyutpinggau3
Yalegau
Definition
To court, chase, or pick up a romantic or sexual partner.
slangpeopleslang
How it's used
Carries a distinctly masculine and often slightly crude connotation when used to describe pursuing women. While it can be used in a lighthearted way among friends, it is not appropriate for formal settings or when speaking to someone you do not know well. It focuses specifically on the act of initiating a romantic or sexual pursuit rather than the state of dating.
Examples
He is always going to Lan Kwai Fong to pick up girls.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word in front of the person you are pursuing, as it can sound objectifying or disrespectful. It is strictly a verb for the act of 'hitting on' someone and cannot be used to describe a committed relationship.
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.
