gwai1閨闺
Jyutpinggwai1
Yalegwāi
Definition
A women's private chamber, or a small arched door.
- a lady's chamber; women's private bedroom
- a small arched door or entrance
writtenpeoplehome
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used in literary or classical contexts to refer to a woman's private living quarters. It rarely appears in modern spoken Cantonese except as part of specific set phrases like 閨房 or 閨蜜. Using it outside of these established compounds will sound overly formal or archaic to native speakers.
Examples
She always hides in her chamber and refuses to come out.
This is her close female friend.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 歸, which is a common verb meaning to return. They share a similar shape but have completely different meanings and pronunciations.
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.
