zaak6 gaau1擇交择交
Jyutpingzaak6 gaau1
Yalejaahk gāau
Definition
To choose one's friends carefully.
writtenpeopleother
How it's used
This term carries a formal, slightly didactic tone often associated with traditional Confucian values regarding social conduct. It is rarely used in casual, everyday banter between peers, appearing more frequently in advice from elders or in written reflections on character development. Using it in a casual setting might make you sound like you are lecturing someone or using a textbook phrase.
Examples
He is very selective in choosing friends; not everyone can be his friend.
Related words
Common phrases
to be prudent in choosing friends
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the casual act of making friends, which is usually expressed as 交朋友. 擇交 specifically implies a deliberate, evaluative process of vetting people before deciding to associate with them.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
