we2搲
Jyutpingwe2
Yalewé
Definition
To scratch forcefully using one's nails or claws.
colloquialdaily actionsbody
How it's used
Beyond the literal sense of scratching with nails, this verb is frequently used in the colloquial expression 搲撈 to mean actively seeking out work or opportunities. It carries a slightly desperate or persistent nuance, implying one is scraping around to find something. When used for physical itching, it is the standard term for scratching an itch on the skin.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 抓, which is more common in written Chinese or Mandarin, whereas 搲 is the authentic Cantonese term for the physical action of scratching with nails.
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.
