ngaau5 zi6咬字
Jyutpingngaau5 zi6
Yalengáauh jih
Definition
Pronunciation; articulation.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the physical clarity and precision of speech rather than just the correctness of a tone or vocabulary choice. It is frequently used in contexts involving performance, such as singing, acting, or broadcasting, where distinct enunciation is a professional requirement.
Examples
His articulation is very clear when he speaks.
You really need to practice your pronunciation to act well.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 讀音, which refers to the correct pronunciation of a specific character or word. 咬字 describes the mechanical act of articulating those sounds clearly.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
