wai2卉
Jyutpingwai2
Yalewái
Definition
Plants or vegetation; also means plentiful.
- literaryplants; herbs; vegetation
- literaryplentiful; numerous
writtennature
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used in formal or literary contexts, particularly in compound words like 花卉. It rarely appears as a standalone noun in everyday spoken Cantonese. You will mostly encounter it in written descriptions of gardens or botanical exhibitions.
Examples
The flowers and plants in the park are blooming beautifully.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word to refer to common household plants or vegetables in daily conversation, as it sounds overly poetic or archaic. Use 花 or 植物 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
