hou6 hou6皓皓
Jyutpinghou6 hou6
Yalehouh houh
Definition
White and glistening.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
皓皓 is a descriptive term primarily used in literary or poetic contexts to describe a brilliant, pure whiteness. In everyday spoken Cantonese, people rarely use this specific reduplicated form, preferring more common adjectives like 白雪雪 or 閃令令 depending on the context. It carries a sense of elegance and is often found in written descriptions rather than casual conversation.
Examples
Her eyes are bright and glistening, as if they can glow.
Seeing his bright white teeth, I am really envious.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common adjective, but it is quite formal and can sound unnatural or overly dramatic if used in a mundane setting like describing a white shirt or a piece of paper.
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.
