jiu5 dou6繞道绕道
Jyutpingjiu5 dou6
Yaleyíuh douh
Definition
To take a detour; to bypass a route by taking a longer way around.
colloquialtransportdaily actions
How it's used
兜路 is the standard colloquial way to express taking a detour in Hong Kong. While 繞道 is understood as a formal or written term, it sounds stiff and unnatural in daily conversation. Use 兜路 when talking about traffic, walking routes, or even metaphorical detours in plans.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 繞道 in casual speech, as it sounds like a news report or a formal traffic announcement. Stick to 兜路 for everyday interactions to sound more natural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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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.



