gung2 sau2拱手
Jyutpinggung2 sau2
Yalegúng sáu
Definition
To clasp one's hands in front of the chest as a gesture of greeting or respect.
neutralpeopledaily actions
How it's used
This gesture is primarily associated with traditional Chinese culture and is rarely performed in casual daily life. It is mostly seen during formal ceremonies, traditional festivals, or in period dramas. When used metaphorically, it implies giving something up easily or without a fight, often carrying a sense of resignation or defeat.
Examples
He immediately clasped his hands to greet his elder upon seeing them.
Are you planning to just hand over the position like that?
Related words
Common phrases
to hand over on a silver platter
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.
