suk1夙
Jyutpingsuk1
Yalesūk
Definition
Early morning, or long-held, previous, and inborn.
- literaryearly morning
- literarylong-held; long-standing; cherished from the past
- literaryprevious; former; past
writtentime
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively found in formal, literary, or written contexts rather than spoken Cantonese. It is typically used in compound words to denote something that has existed for a long time or from the past. You will rarely hear it in casual conversation, as native speakers prefer using phrases like 一早 or 以前 to express similar concepts.
Examples
His long-held wish is to travel around the world.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake it for a common spoken word due to its appearance in formal idioms, but using it in daily speech will sound unnatural or overly archaic. It is best reserved for formal writing or when quoting classical literature.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
