hai6繫系
Jyutpinghai6
Yalehaih
Definition
To tie, bind, or fasten tightly with a rope or cord to prevent movement or falling.
neutraldaily actions
How it's used
While 繫 is the formal character for tying or fastening, in everyday spoken Cantonese, people almost exclusively use 綁 instead. You will mostly encounter 繫 in written instructions, formal announcements, or specific compound words like 繫帶. Using it in casual conversation can sound slightly stiff or overly literary.
Examples
Remember to fasten your seatbelt.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 係, which is the copula meaning to be. They sound identical in many contexts, but 繫 is strictly a verb related to fastening, whereas 係 is used for identification or existence.
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.
