kei4 tou2祈禱祈祷
Jyutpingkei4 tou2
Yalekèih tóu
Definition
Prayer; the content of a prayer.
neutralother
How it's used
While 祈禱 functions as both a verb and a noun, it is almost exclusively associated with religious contexts, particularly Christianity. In secular settings where one hopes for a positive outcome, speakers are more likely to use 祈求 or just express hope using 希望.
Examples
He prays every day when he wakes up.
Have you been praying for this for a long time?
Related words
Common phrases
pray sincerely
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 祈禱 with 禱告. While they are synonyms, 禱告 is more commonly used in formal religious services or written texts, whereas 祈禱 is the standard term for the act of praying in daily life.
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.
