gau3 jan4救人
Jyutpinggau3 jan4
Yalegau yàhn
Definition
To save or rescue people.
neutralpeopledaily actions
How it's used
Focuses on the act of saving a human life, often in emergency or life-threatening situations. It is a verb-object compound, meaning it can be split by aspect markers like 救咗人 or 救緊人. While it sounds heroic, it is also used in casual conversation to describe the actions of emergency services or bystanders.
Examples
The firefighters rushed into the fire to save people.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 救命, which is an interjection used to call for help. Using 救人 when you mean to shout for help will sound like you are declaring your intention to save someone else rather than asking for rescue.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
