lo4 gu2鑼鼓锣鼓
Jyutpinglo4 gu2
Yalelòh gú
Definition
Percussion instruments, especially gongs and drums.
colloquialother
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of percussion instruments, this term is frequently used in the idiom 鑼鼓喧天 to describe a scene that is extremely lively and noisy. It often carries a theatrical connotation, as these instruments are essential for traditional Cantonese opera performances. When used metaphorically, it refers to the hype or public commotion surrounding an event.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the general term for music, as it specifically refers to the loud, rhythmic percussion section rather than melodic instruments.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Classifier
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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).



