naa4拿
Jyutpingnaa4
Yalenàh
Definition
To take, grasp, or pick up.
writtendaily actions
How it's used
While 拿 exists in written Chinese, it is rarely used in spoken Cantonese. Native speakers almost exclusively use 攞 or 拎 to express the act of taking or picking something up. Using 拿 in casual conversation sounds overly formal, literary, or like a direct translation from Mandarin.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 拿 in daily speech as it sounds unnatural and stiff. Stick to 攞 for general taking or picking up, and 拎 for carrying something in your hand.
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.
