tau4 kaau3投靠
Jyutpingtau4 kaau3
Yaletàuh kaau
Definition
To seek refuge from someone, such as relatives or friends.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
Implies a sense of dependency or relying on someone else for survival or shelter during a difficult period. It is often used when someone has exhausted their own resources and needs to lean on a social network for support. The term carries a slightly heavy or serious tone, as it suggests a situation where one has no other viable options.
Examples
He has nowhere to live, so he has to seek refuge with his relatives.
Which friend are you planning to seek refuge with?
Related words
Common phrases
seek refuge with relatives or friends
seek refuge under someone's protection
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe casual visits or staying over at a friend's house for fun. It specifically describes a situation of necessity or hardship, not a social gathering or a vacation.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
