gu3顧顾
Jyutpinggu3
Yalegu
Definition
To attend to, look after, pay attention to, or focus on something.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Often used in the form 顧住 to emphasize being preoccupied or fixated on a specific task or state. It carries a slightly critical tone when used to suggest someone is neglecting other responsibilities because they are too focused on one thing. It functions similarly to focusing one's attention or energy on a single priority.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
to be preoccupied with
to take the overall situation into account
Common mistake
Avoid using it as a direct translation for taking care of a person in a physical sense, such as babysitting or nursing, where 照顧 is the standard term. 顧 is more about mental focus or emotional priority rather than physical supervision.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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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).
