gau1溝沟
Jyutpinggau1
Yalegāu
Definition
A ditch, gutter, or narrow waterway.
colloquialnatureplaces
How it's used
While this character is often used in slang to mean flirting or mixing, its literal meaning refers to a narrow channel or gutter. In urban Hong Kong, it is most frequently encountered in the compound 溝渠. It specifically denotes an artificial or natural drainage path rather than a large river or canal.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Related words
Common phrases
drain or ditch
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the slang verb 溝, which means to flirt or to mix ingredients. Ensure context is clear, as referring to a person as a 溝 would be nonsensical or offensive.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
