jau4柔
Jyutpingjau4
Yaleyàuh
Definition
Gentle, mild, or soft.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
Primarily functions as a bound morpheme in Cantonese, appearing mostly in compound words like 柔和 or 柔軟. Using it as a standalone adjective to describe a person or object is relatively rare in casual speech, where words like 溫柔 or 軟熟 are preferred. It carries a literary or formal nuance that distinguishes it from everyday conversational vocabulary.
Examples
The tone of her voice is very gentle.
This fabric feels very soft to the touch.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake it for a common adjective, but it is rarely used alone in spoken Cantonese. Always pair it with other characters to form a compound, such as 溫柔 for people or 柔軟 for physical textures.
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.
