hoi1 gyun2開卷开卷
Jyutpinghoi1 gyun2
Yalehōi gyún
Definition
To open a book; to read.
writtenschool
How it's used
Literary in origin, this term is rarely used in everyday spoken Cantonese to mean reading. It is almost exclusively encountered in the idiom 開卷有益, which suggests that opening a book always brings some benefit. Using it as a direct verb for reading in casual conversation will sound overly formal or even slightly pretentious.
Examples
He has been studying very diligently lately.
Related words
Common phrases
reading enriches the mind
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the common phrase 開考, which refers to the start of an examination. Learners often mistake the literary usage for a standard verb, but native speakers prefer 睇書 or 讀書 for daily activities.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
