gu3錮锢
Jyutpinggu3
Yalegu
Definition
To confine, hold in custody, or stop; can also refer to an obstinate disease.
- to confine, imprison, or hold in custody
- to stop or block
- literaryobstinate or chronic disease
writtenhealthother
How it's used
This character is rarely used in modern spoken Cantonese as a standalone verb for general confinement. It often appears in formal or literary contexts to describe a persistent, stubborn condition or a state of being restricted or blocked. When used colloquially, it usually implies a sense of being trapped or unable to move forward, whether physically or emotionally.
Examples
His illness is hard to treat, it feels like it is stuck.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 固, which appears in words like 固執. While both can imply stubbornness or rigidity, 錮 specifically carries the sense of being locked in or restricted, whereas 固 relates to firmness or persistence.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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).
