liu4聊
Jyutpingliu4
Yalelìuh
Definition
To chat.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
While 聊 is understood in Cantonese, it is significantly less common than 傾 or 傾計 in daily speech. It often carries a slightly more literary or Mandarin-influenced nuance compared to the purely Cantonese 傾. Using 聊 can sometimes sound like you are adopting a more formal or written style, or specifically referencing Mandarin vocabulary.
Examples
Come over and chat with me for a bit when you are free.
What are they chatting about over there?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 聊 because it matches the Mandarin word for chat, but native speakers will almost exclusively use 傾 or 傾計 in casual conversation. Using 聊 in a very informal setting might make you sound like you are speaking a mix of Cantonese and Mandarin.
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.
