kok3郝
Jyutpingkok3
Yalekok
Definition
A surname, usually transliterated as Kok.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Surnames in Hong Kong are often romanized based on their Cantonese pronunciation rather than Mandarin pinyin. While the character 郝 is pronounced as Kok in Cantonese, it is rare and typically only encountered as a family name. It should not be confused with the common word 殼, which shares a similar sound but carries a completely different meaning.
Examples
His surname is Kok, everyone calls him Mr. Kok.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly try to use this character in everyday vocabulary because they recognize the sound, but it is strictly restricted to use as a surname.
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.
