zok3 / zok6岞
Jyutpingzok3 / zok6
Yalejok / johk
Definition
An ancient name for a mountain, used in place names.
writtennaturedescriptions
How it's used
This character is primarily used in written Cantonese to describe terrain that is rugged, precipitous, or steep. It is rarely heard in casual spoken conversation, where people would almost always use 陡 or 險 instead. It carries a slightly literary or descriptive tone that you would encounter in travel writing or formal descriptions of landscapes.
Examples
That mountain is very steep, it is very tiring to walk up.
Related words
Common phrases
the mountain terrain is steep
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 昨, which sounds similar but refers to time. Learners often mistake it for a common verb because of its appearance, but it is strictly an adjective for terrain.
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.
