gou3 gaa3告假
Jyutpinggou3 gaa3
Yalegou ga
Definition
To request leave; to apply for time off from work or school.
writtenworkschool
How it's used
Although formally recognized in dictionaries, this term sounds quite stiff and bureaucratic in everyday spoken Cantonese. Most people prefer using 請假 for almost all casual or professional contexts. It is more likely to appear in formal written notices or when someone is being deliberately polite or distant when informing a superior.
Examples
He is feeling unwell today, so he requested leave and won't be coming to work.
Where are you going to have fun after taking leave tomorrow?
Related words
Common phrases
to request leave from the company
to request leave due to illness
Common mistake
Learners often use this in casual conversation with friends, which can make them sound like they are reading from a formal document. Stick to 請假 for daily life to sound natural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
