hang2肯
Jyutpinghang2
Yaleháng
Definition
To be willing to, or to agree to.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Expressing willingness often requires this word to show personal agency or consent. Unlike the more formal 願意, this is the standard way to ask if someone is prepared to do something or if they have given their permission. It frequently appears in the A-not-A question format 肯唔肯 to solicit a decision from others.
Examples
As long as you are willing to work hard, you will definitely succeed.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the English word 'can'. While it implies the ability to do something, it specifically focuses on the subject's desire or agreement to perform an action, not their physical capacity or skill.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
