zou2 cou1早操
Jyutpingzou2 cou1
Yalejóu chōu
Definition
Morning exercise, such as jogging, tai chi, or stretching.
colloquialhealthdaily actions
How it's used
This term is strongly associated with the elderly population in Hong Kong who gather in public parks or playgrounds at dawn. It implies a structured or habitual routine rather than just any casual physical activity. Younger people rarely use this term to describe their own gym workouts or jogging routines.
Measure word
ci3次chiExamples
He goes to the park for morning exercise every single morning.
Did you go to the park for morning exercise today?
Related words
Common phrases
to do morning exercise
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a casual workout or going to the gym, as it specifically carries the connotation of communal, light exercise performed by seniors in the morning.
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.
