king4擎
Jyutpingking4
Yalekìhng
Definition
To stand tall, like a pillar supporting something.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
Used primarily in formal or literary contexts to describe something towering or supporting, often evoking the image of a pillar holding up the sky. It rarely appears as a standalone verb in daily speech, functioning instead as a bound morpheme in compound words or poetic descriptions. When used, it emphasizes a sense of immense height or structural strength.
Examples
That building is as tall as the sky, it is quite exaggerated.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 撐, which is the common colloquial verb for supporting something with your hands or a prop. 擎 carries a much more grand, literary weight and is not used for everyday tasks like holding up a shelf or supporting a friend.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
