zong1臧

Jyutpingzong1

Yalejōng

Definition

Good or generous; a male slave; stolen goods or bribes; or to store or hide.

literarygood; generous
archaica male slave
literarystolen goods; booty; bribes
literaryto hide; to store; to bury

writtendaily actions

How it's used

The character 臧 is almost exclusively used in literary or classical contexts in modern Cantonese, often appearing in idioms or formal writing. In everyday spoken Cantonese, the concept of hiding or storing something is expressed using the phrasal verb 收埋. Learners should avoid using 臧 in daily conversation, as it will sound archaic or confusing to native speakers.

Common phrases

zong1臧fau2否

to judge or criticize

Common mistake

Do not confuse the literary usage of 臧 with the common spoken verb 收埋. Using 臧 in a casual sentence will make you sound like you are reciting a classical text rather than speaking naturally.