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
Related words
Common phrases
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.
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.
