gwaa3掛挂
Jyutpinggwaa3
Yalegwa
Definition
To hang, hang up, or suspend an object using a rope, hook, nail, or other support.
colloquialdaily actionshome
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of suspending objects, this verb is frequently used in the context of telephone calls. When someone ends a call abruptly or hangs up on you, it is common to describe the action as 掛線. It carries a slightly more active or intentional nuance than simply ending a conversation.
Examples
Could you help me hang my clothes in the wardrobe?
The painting has been hanging on the wall for a long time.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the homophone 掛 meaning to miss someone. While the pronunciation is identical, the context of physical suspension versus emotional longing is distinct and usually clear from the object being used.
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.
