geoi2 hei2舉起举起
Jyutpinggeoi2 hei2
Yalegéui héi
Definition
To lift; to raise; to hold something up.
neutraldaily actionsbody
How it's used
While 舉起 is understood in Cantonese, speakers often prefer the more direct verb 拎高 when talking about lifting physical objects. Using 舉起 often carries a slightly more formal or deliberate tone, such as raising a hand to vote or lifting a heavy weight during exercise. It is rarely used for casual actions like picking up a cup or a phone.
Examples
He lifted the dumbbell with great effort.
Those who want to speak, please raise your hand.
Common mistake
Avoid using 舉起 for everyday actions like picking up a bag or a pen, as it sounds overly dramatic or formal. Use 拎起 or 拎高 instead for those contexts.
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.
