zaan6 se2撰寫撰写
Jyutpingzaan6 se2
Yalejaahn sé
Definition
To write or compose; a more formal synonym of "to write".
writtenworkschool
How it's used
Reserved for formal contexts like academic papers, official documents, or professional correspondence. Using it in casual conversation can sound overly stiff or pretentious. Stick to 寫 for everyday writing tasks like text messages or casual notes.
Examples
He is busy writing a report recently.
Are you the one responsible for writing this article?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use it interchangeably with 寫 in casual settings, which creates a mismatch in tone. It is strictly a verb for formal composition and does not function as a general-purpose word for writing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
