to1 sau2 zai2拖手仔
Jyutpingto1 sau2 zai2
Yaletō sáu jái
Definition
To hold hands.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Adding the diminutive suffix 仔 to 拖手 softens the tone, making it sound more intimate or playful. It is primarily used to describe the romantic act of holding hands between couples, rather than the practical act of holding a child's hand to keep them safe. Using this term implies a sense of sweetness or affection in the relationship.
Examples
When did you two start holding hands?
Related words
Common phrases
sweetly holding hands
Common mistake
Do not use this term to describe holding a child's hand, as it carries a strong romantic connotation. For simply holding a child's hand, use the neutral 拖手 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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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).
