je5喏
Jyutpingje5
Yaleyéh
Definition
A respectful reply of assent or agreement, or an exclamation used to draw attention.
- archaica respectful reply of assent to a superior; yes
- literarylook!; see!
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Used primarily to draw someone's attention to an object or to confirm receipt of information. It carries a slightly formal or old-fashioned nuance when used as a verbal acknowledgement, often sounding like a respectful 'yes' or 'understood' when addressing a superior. In casual settings, it functions more like a demonstrative 'here' or 'look' when handing something over.
Examples
Here, this is the document you wanted.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the particle 嗱, which is also used to draw attention but is strictly colloquial and lacks the formal, respectful undertone of 喏.
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.
