ziu1 sau2招手
Jyutpingziu1 sau2
Yalejīu sáu
Definition
To wave one's hand, typically to greet, say hello, or beckon someone.
colloquialdaily actionscommunication
How it's used
Focuses on the physical gesture of moving the hand or arm to signal someone to come closer or to acknowledge their presence. It is distinct from 揮手, which is more general and often used for saying goodbye or greeting from a distance. Use 招手 specifically when you want to get someone's attention or invite them to approach you.
Examples
He is waving at me from across the street.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to mean saying goodbye, as it implies an invitation to approach rather than a farewell gesture.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
