gu3故
Jyutpinggu3
Yalegu
Definition
Story; tale.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Using 故仔 is the standard way to refer to a story in daily speech, while the single character 故 is mostly restricted to specific compound words like 講故 or 典故. It carries a slightly informal and playful tone compared to the more formal 故事. When referring to a long or complex narrative, it is common to use the measure word 段.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 故 alone as a noun in a sentence to mean a story, as it will sound archaic or confusing; always use the full form 故仔 in conversational Cantonese.
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.
