wai6謂谓

Jyutpingwai6

Yalewaih

語素Common

Definition

To call or name; to address as.

writtencommunication

How it's used

This character is almost exclusively used in formal or literary contexts in modern Cantonese, often appearing in the structure 謂之 to mean 'is called' or 'is referred to as'. It is rarely used in casual speech, where people prefer 叫做 or 稱呼. It is most commonly encountered by learners as part of the fixed expression 所謂, which carries a skeptical or dismissive tone.

Examples

ni1呢go3個cing4情fong3況，jan4人dei6哋wai6謂zi1之gaam3尷gaai3尬。

In this situation, people call it awkward.

nei5你wai6謂le1呢zung3種hang4行wai4為hai6係me1咩？

What do you call this kind of behavior?

Common phrases

so2所wai6謂

so-called

wai6謂zi1之

is called

Common mistake

Do not use this in everyday conversation to mean 'to call' someone by name or 'to name' an object, as it will sound overly dramatic or archaic. Stick to 叫做 for standard speech.