zaau2 geoi2抓舉抓举
Jyutpingzaau2 geoi2
Yalejáau géui
Definition
The snatch in weightlifting, in which the competitor lifts the barbell in a single continuous movement.
colloquialsports
How it's used
Technical sports terminology like this is often borrowed directly from Mandarin in formal contexts, but athletes and fans in Hong Kong use these terms naturally within Cantonese sentences. It describes a specific, singular explosive movement that requires significant technique compared to the two-stage process of the clean and jerk. You will mostly hear this discussed in the context of professional training or Olympic coverage.
Examples
His arms are tired from practicing the snatch today.
Do you think the snatch or the clean and jerk is harder?
Related words
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
