heoi3 gaai1去街
Jyutpingheoi3 gaai1
Yaleheui gāai
Definition
To go out; to leave the house for leisure or social activities.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to leaving the house for leisure or social purposes rather than for errands or commuting. It carries a sense of aimless wandering or socialising, making it distinct from simply going to a specific destination. Parents often use this phrase when scolding children for spending too much time away from home.
Examples
The weather is so nice today, why don't we go out together?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe going to work or school, as those are specific destinations. It implies a recreational context, so saying you are going to the office using this phrase would sound very strange.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
