kwai1規规
Jyutpingkwai1
Yalekwāi
Definition
Rules or regulations used to restrict behavior, typically with penalties if violated.
neutralother
How it's used
This character rarely stands alone in modern spoken Cantonese, functioning instead as a bound morpheme in compound words. It carries a sense of formal structure or established order, often implying that failure to comply will result in consequences. You will most frequently encounter it in the common phrase 規矩, which refers to the general set of rules or social norms governing a situation.
Examples
You need to follow the rules when you work.
What rules do I need to follow here?
Related words
Common phrases
school regulations
to follow the rules
rules and regulations
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 規矩 with 習慣, but 規矩 specifically refers to formal or social rules that must be adhered to, whereas 習慣 refers to personal habits or customs.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
