jyu4嶼屿
Jyutpingjyu4
Yaleyùh
Definition
Small island; islet.
neutralnatureplaces
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used in formal or geographical contexts like place names. In everyday spoken Cantonese, people naturally prefer using 島 to refer to an island. You will rarely hear someone use 嶼 as a standalone noun in casual conversation.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong.
This island is surrounded by water.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 嶼 by itself to describe an island in daily speech as it sounds unnatural and overly literary. Always use 島 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
