hing1 sau1興修兴修
Jyutpinghing1 sau1
Yalehīng sāu
Definition
To start construction; to build, construct, or initiate a major building project.
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How it's used
Focuses specifically on the commencement of building or repair projects, often implying a formal or large-scale undertaking. It carries a slightly more serious or bureaucratic tone compared to everyday verbs like 起 or 整. You will frequently encounter this in news reports or official announcements regarding infrastructure.
Examples
Construction starts here next month.
Related words
Common phrases
to build water conservancy projects
to start road construction
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with everyday verbs like 起, which is the standard colloquial term for building houses or structures. Using 興修 in casual conversation about building a simple shelf or fixing a small item will sound overly formal or stiff.
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.
