wo4 gon2禾稈禾秆
Jyutpingwo4 gon2
Yalewòh gón
Definition
Straw; paddy straw or rice stalks.
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How it's used
Refers specifically to the dried stalks of rice plants after the grain has been harvested. It is most frequently encountered in the classic idiom 禾稈冚珍珠, which describes someone who is wealthy or talented but keeps a very low profile. Outside of this proverb, it is rarely used in modern urban life unless discussing traditional farming or specific crafts.
Measure word
zaat3紮jatExamples
Is this straw still useful?
Related words
Common phrases
to hide one's light under a bushel
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general terms for grass or hay, as it specifically denotes rice straw. Using it to describe generic garden weeds or lawn grass would be incorrect.
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.
