maai6勱劢
Jyutpingmaai6
Yalemaaih
Definition
To make an effort or put forth one's strength.
writtendaily actionswork
How it's used
This character is extremely rare in modern spoken Cantonese and is almost exclusively encountered in formal or literary contexts. Most native speakers would use the common verb 努力 or the phrase 出力 instead to convey the same meaning. Using this character in daily conversation will likely confuse listeners as it is not part of the standard colloquial lexicon.
Examples
He has been working very hard for the exam.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common verb, but it is effectively archaic in speech. Avoid using it in casual settings to prevent sounding unnatural or overly formal.
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.
