zi1 ci4支持
Jyutpingzi1 ci4
Yalejī chìh
Definition
To support, stand by, agree with, or encourage someone.
neutralpeopledaily actions
How it's used
While 支持 is standard and widely understood, 撐 is the preferred colloquial verb for expressing personal backing or loyalty in daily life. Using 撐 often sounds more natural and emotionally invested when talking about friends, family, or personal opinions. Reserve 支持 for more formal contexts like business, politics, or public statements.
Examples
I will always support you.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 支持 in casual settings where 撐 is more appropriate. While not grammatically wrong, using 支持 for everything can make your speech sound slightly stiff or like a news report.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
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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).
