gwaan3 jung6 jyu5慣用語惯用语
Jyutpinggwaan3 jung6 jyu5
Yalegwaan yuhng yúh
Definition
An idiom, set phrase, or common expression.
neutralcommunication
How it's used
Refers specifically to fixed phrases or idioms that have become standard in the language. It is a formal term used to describe linguistic patterns rather than a word you would use in casual conversation to describe a phrase. When speaking naturally, people usually just refer to these as 俗語 or 講法.
Measure word
geoi3句geuiExamples
This sentence is a common Cantonese expression.
Do you know what this common expression means?
Related words
Common phrases
commonly used expression
to learn common expressions
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a casual way to describe slang, but it is a more academic or descriptive term for established linguistic conventions. Using it in daily speech can sound slightly stiff or like you are giving a lecture.
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.
