gwat6崛
Jyutpinggwat6
Yalegwath
Definition
To rise abruptly; to stand tall; to tower.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used in the compound 崛起 to describe the sudden emergence or rise of a power, organization, or structure. It carries a sense of grandeur and rapid development, often appearing in formal news reports or historical narratives rather than casual conversation. You will rarely encounter it as a standalone verb in modern spoken Cantonese.
Examples
go2 zo2 daai6 haa6 hai2 si5 zung1 sam1 gwat6 dei6 ji4 hei2
嗰座大廈喺市中心崛地而起。
That building rose up from the city center.
san1 ge3 soeng1 jip6 keoi1 hai2 ni1 dou6 gwat6 zo2 hei2 lei4
新嘅商業區喺呢度崛咗起嚟。
A new commercial district has risen up here.
Related words
Common phrases
gwat6 hei2
崛起
to rise abruptly
gwat6 dei6 ji4 hei2
崛地而起
to rise from the ground
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common verb like 升 or 起, but it is a literary morpheme that requires specific context. It is not used for everyday actions like raising your hand or lifting an object.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
