kau1 tung1溝通沟通
Jyutpingkau1 tung1
Yalekāu tūng
Definition
To communicate, or the exchange of thoughts and ideas between people.
- to communicate
- communication; exchange of ideas
neutralcommunicationpeople
How it's used
While 溝通 is widely used in professional and formal contexts, it is increasingly common in casual speech to describe the quality of a relationship. It often implies a two-way street where mutual understanding is the goal. Using it in a sentence often suggests that a lack of it is the root cause of a misunderstanding or conflict.
Examples
We need more communication to solve the problem.
Related words
Common phrases
strengthen communication
communication barrier
Common mistake
Learners often use 溝通 as a direct translation for the English verb 'to talk', but it is more specific to the exchange of ideas or information. If you just mean 'chatting' or 'talking', use 傾偈 instead.
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.
