kau4 fan1求婚
Jyutpingkau4 fan1
Yalekàuh fān
Definition
To propose marriage; to ask someone to marry you.
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the act of asking for marriage rather than the general concept of a proposal. It is almost always used with the preposition 同 to indicate the person being asked, such as 同佢求婚. The term is formal enough for serious conversation but common enough for everyday gossip about friends and celebrities.
Examples
He proposed to his girlfriend last night.
When do you plan to propose to her?
Related words
Common phrases
engagement ring
Operation Love (a common reference to elaborate proposals)
Common mistake
Avoid using the Mandarin structure 向...求婚, which sounds unnatural in spoken Cantonese. Always use 同 instead of 向 when talking about who you are proposing to.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
