giu2繳缴
Jyutpinggiu2
Yalegíu
Definition
To pay, or to hand over one's property to the state.
writtenmoneywork
How it's used
This term is formal and primarily reserved for official transactions like taxes, utility bills, or government dues. It carries a sense of duty or legal obligation that the more common word 交 does not necessarily imply. You will rarely hear it used in casual, interpersonal contexts such as paying a friend back for lunch.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this word for everyday payments like buying groceries or paying a waiter, where 交錢 or 畀錢 is much more natural. Using 繳 in a casual setting sounds overly stiff or bureaucratic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
