gou2藁
Jyutpinggou2
Yalegóu
Definition
Straw, dried stalks of grain; dry, withered wood.
writtennaturedescriptions
How it's used
Primarily appears in literary contexts or specific idioms rather than everyday speech. Native speakers rarely use this character in casual conversation, preferring more common terms like 乾草 for dry grass or 枯 for withered things. It carries a sense of brittleness and total lack of moisture.
Examples
This wood has already turned into dry, withered material.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 稿, which refers to a draft or manuscript. They are visually similar but semantically unrelated.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
