zau1 wai4週圍周围
Jyutpingzau1 wai4
Yalejāu wàih
Definition
Surroundings; everywhere or all over the place.
- surroundings; nearby area
- slangeverywhere; all over the place
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This term functions as an adverb describing a state of being scattered or present in many locations. It often carries a slightly messy or chaotic connotation when describing objects left in disarray. While it can mean surroundings, it is far more common to use it to emphasize the ubiquity of something.
Examples
He has friends everywhere and is very popular.
Why are you throwing trash all over the place?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 附近, which specifically means nearby or in the vicinity. Use 週圍 when you mean all around or everywhere, but use 附近 when you are referring to the immediate area around a specific point.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- 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.
