ling1 zyu6拎住
Jyutpingling1 zyu6
Yalelīng jyuh
Definition
To hold, carry, or grasp an item in one's hand.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
拎住 combines the verb 拎, meaning to carry or pick up, with the aspect marker 住 to indicate a continuous state of holding something. It is the standard, everyday way to describe the physical act of having an object in one's hand or arms. Unlike the more formal 拿, which is often used in written contexts or Mandarin, 拎 is the go-to word for casual, spoken Cantonese.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 攞 instead of 拎 when describing the continuous state of holding something. While 攞 can mean to take or fetch, 拎住 is much more natural when you are already in the process of carrying or holding an item.
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.
