mak6 syu1默書默书

Jyutpingmak6 syu1

Yalemahk syū

動詞Common

Definition

Dictation; a teaching method used to train students in writing, divided into read-and-write and recitation.

colloquialschool

How it's used

Refers specifically to the school activity of writing down characters from memory after hearing them read aloud. It functions as both a noun and a verb, meaning one can say 聽日有默書 or 我要默書. It is a core part of the local primary school experience and carries a distinct sense of academic pressure.

Examples

nei5你ting1聽jat6日jiu3要mak6默syu1書mei6未aa4呀？

Have you finished preparing for your dictation tomorrow?

ngo5我mak6默syu1書seng4成jat6日dou1都se2寫co3錯zi6字。

I always write characters incorrectly during dictation.

Common phrases

mak6默syu1書hap6合gaak3格

to pass a dictation test

bou2補mak6默

to retake a dictation test

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 聽寫, which is the Mandarin term for the same activity. Using 聽寫 in a Hong Kong classroom will be understood but sounds unnatural as it is not the local terminology.