ngou4翱
Jyutpingngou4
Yalengòuh
Definition
To soar, hover, or roam in the air.
writtenanimalsdescriptions
How it's used
Literary and formal, this character is almost exclusively encountered in written contexts or poetic descriptions of flight. It is rarely used in casual speech, where speakers would prefer more common verbs like 飛 or 飛翔. You will most frequently see it as part of the compound 翱翔.
Examples
The eagle is soaring in the sky.
He roams the world freely like a bird.
Related words
Common phrases
to soar
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common verb, but it is highly stylized and can sound overly dramatic or unnatural if used in everyday conversation about simple travel or movement.
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.
