gim2撿捡
Jyutpinggim2
Yalegím
Definition
To pick up; to gather.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
While 撿 is the standard written character, Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 執 in daily speech for the act of picking something up from the ground. Using 撿 in conversation can sound overly formal or even like a Mandarin loanword. 執 is also highly versatile and can be used for cleaning up a mess or gathering items together.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse 執 with 執笠, which is a slang term meaning to go out of business or close down a shop. They share the same character but have completely different meanings.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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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.
