gwo2裹
Jyutpinggwo2
Yalegwó
Definition
To wrap up tightly; to bind together.
neutraldaily actions
How it's used
While 裹 is understood in Cantonese, it is rarely used in everyday speech compared to 包. You will mostly encounter it in formal contexts or when describing specific actions like binding a wound or wrapping something tightly. In casual conversation, people almost exclusively use 包 for all wrapping activities.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 裹 in casual settings where it sounds overly formal or literary. Stick to 包 for daily tasks like wrapping food or gifts to avoid sounding unnatural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
