jyu4娛娱
Jyutpingjyu4
Yaleyùh
Definition
To entertain; to do something to make someone feel happy or amused.
neutraldaily actionspeople
How it's used
Rarely appears as a standalone verb in spoken Cantonese, functioning primarily as a bound morpheme in compound words. It carries a formal or literary tone, often associated with organized activities or professional hospitality. When used in everyday speech, it is almost exclusively found within the word 娛樂 or the reflexive construction 自娛.
Examples
They are throwing a party tonight to entertain the guests.
What do you usually like to do for your own entertainment?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 娛 as a direct translation for the English verb entertain in casual conversation, as it sounds overly stiff or archaic. Use 玩 or 搞氣氛 instead for social contexts.
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.
