gwai6匱匮
Jyutpinggwai6
Yalegwaih
Definition
A cabinet, cupboard, or wardrobe; also meaning deficient or exhausted.
- cabinet; cupboard; wardrobe
- literarydeficient; lacking; exhausted
neutralhomedescriptions
How it's used
While 匱 can refer to a cupboard or wardrobe in formal or literary contexts, it is increasingly rare in daily speech compared to 櫃. When used to mean exhausted or deficient, it carries a sense of being drained of energy or resources. It is often used in the phrase 匱乏 to describe a lack of something essential.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Please help me put the clothes into the wardrobe.
Related words
Common mistake
Most native speakers will use 櫃 for furniture instead of 匱. Using 匱 in casual conversation might sound slightly archaic or overly formal, so stick to 櫃 for everyday objects.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
