gwai2匭匦
Jyutpinggwai2
Yalegwái
Definition
A small box or chest, often used for holding ballots or submissions.
writtenother
How it's used
This character is rarely used in modern spoken Cantonese and is almost exclusively found in formal or literary contexts such as ballot boxes or specific containers. Most speakers will use 盒 or 箱 instead for everyday objects. It is essentially a literary variant that has been largely replaced by more common characters in daily life.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners should avoid using this in casual conversation as it sounds archaic or overly formal. Using 盒 is the standard way to refer to a small box in almost all daily situations.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
