loek6略
Jyutpingloek6
Yaleleuhk
Definition
Slightly; a little bit, usually modifying an adjective.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Functions as a formal adverb that adds a sense of modesty or understatement to an adjective or verb. While it appears in everyday speech, it is often replaced by 稍微 or 啲啲 in highly casual settings. Using it helps soften a statement, making it sound more polite or cautious when expressing an opinion or describing a situation.
Examples
He is feeling slightly unwell today.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake it for a verb meaning to omit or skip, as in 略過, but in Cantonese, it is almost exclusively used as an adverb to indicate a small degree. Avoid using it to mean a small amount of a noun, as it only modifies adjectives or verbs.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
