ke4 lau2騎樓骑楼
Jyutpingke4 lau2
Yalekèh láu
Definition
A pillared veranda or balcony extending over the sidewalk, characteristic of Southern Chinese tenement buildings.
colloquialplaces
How it's used
Refers specifically to the covered walkway created by the upper floors of a building extending over the sidewalk. While modern architecture has largely moved away from this design, it remains a defining feature of historic architecture in older districts like Wan Chai or Sham Shui Po. The space underneath is commonly referred to as 騎樓底, which serves as a vital shelter from both the intense sun and heavy rain.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Don't worry about the rain, just walk under the veranda.
This tenement building still preserves the old-style veranda.
Related words
Common phrases
the covered walkway under a veranda
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with a standard balcony or terrace, as the defining characteristic of a 騎樓 is that it is supported by pillars and forms a continuous public walkway at the ground level.
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.
