jau4遊游
Jyutpingjau4
Yaleyàuh
Definition
To travel, wander, or sightsee for pleasure.
colloquialtraveldaily actions
How it's used
Functions primarily as a bound morpheme in modern Cantonese, appearing in compound words rather than as a standalone verb for travel. It carries a sense of leisure and aimless movement, distinguishing it from the more functional or goal oriented travel implied by 去. When used in the context of swimming, it specifically describes the act of moving through water for exercise or fun.
Examples
The whole family went to Japan for a vacation.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this as a standalone verb for travel in daily speech, as it sounds overly literary or archaic. Use 去旅行 or 去玩 instead to express the act of going on a trip.
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.
