jiu2窈
Jyutpingjiu2
Yaleyíu
Definition
An elegant, beautiful, or slim woman.
- literarya woman who is serene and quiet
- literarya woman who is beautiful on the outside and kindhearted on the inside
- literarya woman with a slim and elegant figure
writtendescriptionspeople
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used in the compound 窈窕, which describes a woman who is both physically slender and graceful in demeanor. It carries a classical, literary tone that is rarely used in casual speech outside of this specific set phrase. You will mostly encounter it in descriptions of beauty or in poetic contexts.
Examples
keoi5 go3 joeng2 saang1 dak1 hou2 miu5 tiu5
佢個樣生得好窈窕。
She has a very slender and graceful figure.
bin1 go3 waa6 keoi5 m4 gau3 miu5 tiu5 aa4
邊個話佢唔夠窈窕呀？
Who said she isn't slender and graceful enough?
Related words
Common phrases
miu5 tiu5 suk6 neoi5
窈窕淑女
a graceful and virtuous lady
Common mistake
Do not use this character as a standalone adjective in daily conversation, as it sounds archaic and confusing to native speakers. Always pair it with 窕 to form the standard expression.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
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.
