gwai3桂
Jyutpinggwai3
Yalegwai
Definition
Cassia, cinnamon, or sweet osmanthus; evergreen shrubs or trees known for their fragrant flowers or bark.
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How it's used
Refers primarily to the botanical genus Cinnamomum or the specific scent associated with the osmanthus flower. It is rarely used in isolation to mean the spice itself in casual speech, where 桂皮 is the standard term for cinnamon bark. The character is most frequently encountered in culinary contexts involving traditional desserts or herbal medicine.
Examples
This milk tea has a little bit of cinnamon powder added.
Do you know how to make osmanthus cake?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 桂 with 貴, which sounds similar but means expensive. Ensure the tone is distinct, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion in a market or restaurant setting.
Grammar color guide
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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.
