gong3 dai1降低
Jyutpinggong3 dai1
Yalegong dāi
Definition
To lower, reduce, or decrease in quantity or degree.
neutralworkdescriptions
How it's used
Used primarily in formal or professional contexts, such as discussing business costs, government policies, or technical settings. For everyday, casual situations involving physical objects or volume, speakers often prefer using 較細 or 減低 instead.
Examples
The government should lower tax rates to help the citizens.
Can you lower the volume a bit?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use this word for physical lowering of an object, but it is abstract. To lower a physical object like a hand or a shelf, use 放低 instead.
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.
