oi3 ho4愛河爱河
Jyutpingoi3 ho4
Yaleoi hòh
Definition
The state of love, especially deep and inescapable affection.
colloquialemotion
How it's used
This term is almost exclusively used within the fixed phrase 墮入愛河 to describe the state of falling into a deep, romantic passion. It carries a slightly dramatic or literary flair compared to simply saying 鍾意 or 拍拖. You will rarely hear it used outside of this specific collocation in everyday conversation.
Examples
The two of them have fallen in love recently.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to refer to an actual river or a literal body of water, as it is purely a metaphorical expression for romantic feelings. It is not a general term for love itself, so you cannot use it in contexts like 'I love my family' or 'I love food'.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
