gou1 gou1 dei2高高地
Jyutpinggou1 gou1 dei2
Yalegōu gōu déi
Definition
Slightly high or tall.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Adding the suffix 地 softens the adjective, indicating that something is moderately or slightly tall. It is frequently used to describe people who are above average height but not exceptionally tall, or objects that are positioned at a height that might be slightly inconvenient to reach. This construction is a hallmark of Cantonese descriptive style, making observations sound more casual and less absolute.
Examples
He is on the tall side, so he is easy to find.
Related words
Common phrases
a relatively tall person
placed somewhat high up
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the reduplicated adjective 高高, which describes something that is very high or towering. Using 高高地 implies a moderate degree, whereas 高高 emphasizes a significant, often impressive height.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
