haap6 zaak3狹窄狭窄
Jyutpinghaap6 zaak3
Yalehaahp jaak
Definition
Narrow in width; narrow-minded or limited in temperament.
- narrow; cramped; small in width
- figurativenarrow-minded; limited in heart or mind
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
While 狹窄 is understood in Cantonese, it sounds quite formal or literary compared to the everyday word 窄. In casual conversation, people almost always prefer using 窄 on its own to describe physical space or abstract concepts like one's perspective. Using 狹窄 often gives the impression of a written report or a more serious, descriptive tone.
Examples
This road is so narrow that cars cannot pass.
Don't be so narrow-minded.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 狹窄 in situations where a simple 窄 is more natural, making their speech sound overly stiff or like a textbook. Remember that 窄 is the standard choice for almost all daily contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- 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.
