gwaai2拐
Jyutpinggwaai2
Yalegwáai
Definition
To limp, or to abduct and kidnap children.
- to limp; to walk with difficulty
- to abduct; to kidnap
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
Focus on the physical motion of an uneven gait rather than the medical cause. It is common to repeat the verb as 拐吓拐吓 to describe the continuous, rhythmic action of someone struggling to walk properly. While it can describe a temporary injury, it is also used to describe a permanent physical disability.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 拐帶, which means to kidnap or abduct. When used as a verb for walking, it specifically refers to the physical movement of the legs and feet.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
