joeng5養养
Jyutpingjoeng5
Yaleyéuhng
Definition
To raise, nurture, or keep.
- to raise, support, or provide for children or family
- to keep or rear animals, or to grow plants
- to recuperate, heal, or rest to regain health
colloquialfamilydaily actions
How it's used
Beyond the literal sense of keeping pets or raising children, this verb carries a strong sense of long term commitment and responsibility. It is frequently used in the context of providing for someone financially, such as 養家, which implies being the primary breadwinner. When referring to pets, it is the standard term, whereas for plants, people often prefer the word 種.
Examples
Raising a son is really hard work.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use 養 for plants, but Cantonese speakers typically use 種 for growing or cultivating vegetation. Using 養 for plants can sound unnatural or imply you are treating the plant like a pet.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
