ho2 gaa1可嘉
Jyutpingho2 gaa1
Yalehó gā
Definition
Commendable, laudable, or worthy of praise.
writtendescriptionsemotion
How it's used
Used almost exclusively in formal or semi-formal contexts to describe a positive attitude or behavior. It carries a sense of admiration that is slightly elevated compared to everyday speech. It is most commonly found in the four-character structure where the noun precedes it, such as 勇氣可嘉 or 精神可嘉.
Examples
His spirit of persisting to the end is truly commendable.
Not giving up even when facing difficulties, your courage is commendable.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe people directly, as it describes the quality or action rather than the person themselves. It is not used in casual conversation to compliment someone's appearance or simple tasks.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
