kwai1巋岿
Jyutpingkwai1
Yalekwāi
Definition
Grand, towering, and secure, especially of a mountain.
writtennaturedescriptions
How it's used
Literary in nature, this character is almost exclusively used in the set phrase 巋然 to describe something that is towering, majestic, or unshakable. It is rarely used as a standalone verb or adjective in daily speech. You will mostly encounter it in formal writing or when someone is trying to sound particularly poetic or grand when describing a mountain or a person's status.
Examples
That mountain stands there, firm and immovable.
His position is rock-solid, no one can move him.
Related words
Common phrases
standing firm and immovable
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for common characters like 巍 or 屹 due to the similar visual complexity and meaning. Remember that 巋 is specifically associated with the immovable, towering presence of mountains or abstract concepts like status.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
