zap1 sau2執手执手
Jyutpingzap1 sau2
Yalejāp sáu
Definition
To hold hands.
colloquialbodypeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the act of holding hands between people, often implying a romantic or intimate connection. While it describes the physical action, it carries a slightly more formal or descriptive tone compared to simply saying 拖手. It is frequently used in narratives or when describing a scene rather than just a casual remark between friends.
Examples
The two of them are holding hands walking on the street.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 拖手, which is the much more common, everyday way to say hold hands in Hong Kong. Using 執手 can sound slightly literary or old-fashioned in casual conversation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
