tou4 aa1塗鴉涂鸦
Jyutpingtou4 aa1
Yaletòuh ā
Definition
Graffiti; casual or spontaneous drawings and writings, typically on a wall or public surface.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
While often associated with vandalism in public spaces, the term can also describe casual, aimless sketching or doodling in a notebook. It implies a sense of spontaneity and lack of formal structure. In artistic contexts, it is sometimes used to describe street art that has a more deliberate or aesthetic intent.
Measure word
fuk1幅fūkExamples
The tunnel walls are covered in graffiti.
Why did you draw graffiti here?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 畫畫, which implies a more formal or intentional act of drawing or painting. 塗鴉 specifically carries the connotation of being unauthorized, messy, or done in a public, often illicit, space.
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.
