sei3 zau1四周
Jyutpingsei3 zau1
Yalesei jāu
Definition
All around; the surrounding area or vicinity.
colloquialplacesdescriptions
How it's used
While 四周 is understood, Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use the reduplicated form 四周圍 in daily speech to sound natural. Using the shorter version can sound slightly formal or like written Chinese. It functions as a location word rather than a simple noun, often appearing with 喺 or just placed at the start of a sentence to set the scene.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
all around
Common mistake
Learners often mistake 四周 for a simple noun like a place name, but it is better treated as a spatial reference. Avoid using it as a direct object for verbs that require a specific location, as it describes the general vicinity rather than a precise point.
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.
