gong1 ho4江河

Jyutpinggong1 ho4

Yalegōng hòh

名詞

Definition

Rivers; a collective term for large rivers and streams.

writtennature

How it's used

This term is primarily a literary or formal collective noun used to refer to rivers in a broad, geographical sense. In everyday spoken Cantonese, people almost always use 河流 or just 河 to describe specific bodies of water. Using this term in casual conversation can sound overly poetic or like you are reciting a classical text.

Examples

nei1呢dou6度ge3嘅gong1江ho4河dou1都wu1污jim5染saai3晒。

The rivers around here are all polluted.

nei5你gin3見gwo3過bin1邊di1啲dei6地fong1方ge3嘅gong1江ho4河aa4呀？

Which places' rivers have you seen?

Common phrases

gong1江ho4河wu4湖hoi2海

all bodies of water

Common mistake

Learners often try to use this as a direct synonym for a single river, but it functions as a collective noun. Avoid using it to refer to a specific local stream or river, as it will sound unnatural and pretentious.