haam4涵
Jyutpinghaam4
Yalehàahm
Definition
To contain or hold.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used as a bound morpheme in formal or literary compounds rather than as a standalone verb in daily speech. It carries a sense of depth or inclusion, often appearing in abstract concepts like internal quality or scope. You will rarely hear it used in casual conversation to mean physically holding something inside a container.
Examples
This book covers a lot of different knowledge.
He has a lot of substance when he speaks, not just an empty shell.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word as a direct synonym for the verb 裝 or 擺 when talking about putting physical objects into a box or bag. It is strictly for abstract concepts or formal descriptions of scope.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
