jiu4堯尧
Jyutpingjiu4
Yaleyìuh
Definition
Yao, a legendary ruler of prehistoric China, or the surname Yao.
- literaryYao, a legendary Chinese ruler who abdicated in favor of Shun
- the surname Yao, often transliterated as Yiu or Io
neutralpeople
How it's used
Primarily encountered in historical contexts referring to the legendary sage king, or as a specific surname. When used as a surname, it is distinct from the more common surname 姚, which shares the same romanization in many systems. It carries a sense of classical authority and virtue due to its association with the ideal ruler.
Examples
Have you heard the story of Yao and Shun abdicating the throne?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 姚, which is a much more common surname in Hong Kong. Ensure you distinguish the characters carefully in writing as they are not interchangeable.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
