kai1 gaan3溪澗溪涧
Jyutpingkai1 gaan3
Yalekāi gaan
Definition
Brook, stream, or creek; a small river.
colloquialnatureplaces
How it's used
Refers specifically to small, natural watercourses often found in mountainous or rural areas of Hong Kong. It carries a more rustic and scenic connotation compared to the generic term 河, which is typically reserved for larger, more established rivers. It is frequently associated with hiking and outdoor activities in the New Territories.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Do you know where there is a stream to play in?
Related words
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.
