gou1 ngaa5高雅
Jyutpinggou1 ngaa5
Yalegōu ngáh
Definition
Elegant, noble, and refined.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
High register adjectives like this are often used to describe aesthetics, fashion, or personal demeanor. While it implies sophistication, it is rarely used to describe people in casual conversation, where words like 靚 or 有氣質 are preferred. It carries a sense of refined taste that feels slightly detached from everyday street-level speech.
Examples
Her house is decorated very elegantly.
This evening gown looks very elegant.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this to describe a person's personality in a casual setting, which can sound overly formal or even sarcastic. Stick to describing objects, settings, or clothing to ensure the tone remains appropriate.
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.
