guk6 zyu6局住
Jyutpingguk6 zyu6
Yaleguhk jyuh
Definition
Having no other choice but to do something; forced to.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
This term conveys a sense of being cornered or forced by circumstances rather than personal desire. It implies that if there were any other viable path, the speaker would have taken it. It often appears in narratives where an unfortunate event leads to an inconvenient, unavoidable action.
Examples
He is sick today, so he has no choice but to take leave and rest.
Are you forced to move out because you have no other choice?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 焗, which refers to a stuffy or humid environment. Ensure you use the character 局 for the meaning of being forced or cornered, as 焗 is strictly for temperature or cooking methods.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- 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.
