jau4猶犹
Jyutpingjau4
Yaleyàuh
Definition
Like, as, or similar to; also still or yet.
- literarylike; as; similar to
- literarystill; yet
writtendescriptions
How it's used
Literary in nature, this character is rarely used in everyday spoken Cantonese except within fixed idioms or formal expressions. It functions primarily as a formal marker of comparison, often appearing in the compound 猶如 to emphasize a strong resemblance. Learners should avoid using it in casual conversation where 似 or 好似 are the standard, natural choices.
Examples
The way they speak is as pleasant as singing.
This event is just like a dream.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 猶 as in 猶豫, which relates to hesitation. Using 猶 in casual speech will make you sound like you are reading from a classical text or a formal news report.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Connector
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).
