gwok3國国
Jyutpinggwok3
Yalegwok
Definition
Nation, country, or state.
neutralother
How it's used
Functions primarily as a bound morpheme in Cantonese rather than a standalone noun. When referring to a country in daily speech, speakers almost always use the full term 國家 instead of just 國. It appears most frequently in formal compounds or names of specific nations like 中國 or 美國.
Examples
Which country are you from?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 國 as a standalone word to mean country in casual conversation, as it sounds overly formal or incomplete. Always use 國家 to ensure natural phrasing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
