gung1恭
Jyutpinggung1
Yalegūng
Definition
Respectful, reverent, and polite.
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This character is rarely used as a standalone word in modern spoken Cantonese, appearing almost exclusively in formal compounds or set phrases. It carries a sense of traditional, formal etiquette that feels slightly elevated or old-fashioned in casual conversation. When expressing respect in everyday life, speakers typically prefer using the full compound 恭敬 or other verbs like 尊重.
Examples
He is very respectful towards his elders.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this as a verb on its own, but it functions primarily as a descriptive morpheme within compounds. It cannot be used to mean 'to respect' directly; for that, use 尊重 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
