jau4 gau2悠久
Jyutpingjau4 gau2
Yaleyàuh gáu
Definition
Long; long-standing; having lasted for a very long time.
neutraldescriptionstime
How it's used
Focuses almost exclusively on the passage of time regarding history, culture, or traditions. It carries a formal or literary weight that makes it sound slightly out of place in casual, everyday conversation about short-term events. Use it to add a sense of gravity or respect when discussing something that has endured for centuries.
Examples
This old shop has a very long history.
Is their culture a long-standing one?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe the duration of a person's stay or a simple activity, as it is reserved for abstract concepts like history or heritage. For describing a long time in a general sense, use 好耐 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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).
