saak3 ceoi2索取
Jyutpingsaak3 ceoi2
Yalesaak chéui
Definition
To ask for, request, or obtain something.
writtendaily actionswork
How it's used
Formal in tone, this verb is typically reserved for administrative or official contexts rather than casual requests between friends. It implies a procedural step, such as requesting a receipt, a form, or a specific piece of information from an organization. Using it in daily life to ask a friend for a favor would sound overly stiff or bureaucratic.
Examples
Go to the counter and ask for a form.
Did he manage to obtain that document?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 攞, which is the standard colloquial verb for taking or getting something. While 索取 implies a formal request or a process of retrieval, 攞 is used for almost any physical act of obtaining an object.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
