mau6懋
Jyutpingmau6
Yalemauh
Definition
To be hardworking, splendid, or happy.
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How it's used
This character is almost exclusively found in formal names or specific literary contexts in modern Hong Kong. It is rarely used in everyday spoken Cantonese, where words like 勤力 or 努力 are preferred for describing hard work. Using it in casual conversation will likely sound archaic or confusing to native speakers.
Examples
He is very hardworking; he always works until very late.
Seeing you being so diligent makes me very happy too.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the common character 茂, which is frequently used in names and means lush or flourishing. Learners often mistake the two due to their similar visual appearance and shared usage in personal names.
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.
