ngau5偶
Jyutpingngau5
Yalengáuh
Definition
By chance, by accident, or coincidentally.
writtendaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
This character is primarily used in formal or literary compounds rather than as a standalone verb in spoken Cantonese. When expressing the idea of doing something by chance, speakers typically prefer using 撞到 or 巧合 instead. It appears most frequently in set phrases like 偶然 or 偶爾 to describe infrequent or unexpected occurrences.
Examples
We bumped into an old classmate on the street by chance.
Did you happen to pass by here by chance?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this as a standalone verb in daily speech, as it will sound unnatural or overly poetic. Stick to using it only within established two-character compounds.
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.
