gwai3貴贵
Jyutpinggwai3
Yalegwai
Definition
Expensive; costing a lot of money; high in price.
Example
colloquialmoneydescriptions
How it's used
Beyond its literal meaning of high price, this word is frequently used as a polite honorific when addressing someone else's belongings or family members. For instance, asking about someone's surname is often phrased as 貴姓, which elevates the status of the person being addressed. It carries a sense of respect that makes the interaction feel more formal and courteous.
Examples
This shirt is very expensive, I cannot afford it.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to describe the cost of something you own, as it sounds boastful or unnatural. When talking about your own purchases, use 價錢高 or 唔平 instead.
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.
