Meanings of 嘅
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About 嘅
Podcast: 嘅
Podcast: 嘅
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AI Study Notes for 嘅
嘅 is predominantly used in Cantonese and is informal; it may not be understood in Mandarin contexts. A common mistake is using 嘅 in a Mandarin sentence where 的 (de) should be used instead. Be cautious with pronunciation as it can easily be confused with other particles.
嘅 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but understanding it can enhance your grasp of Cantonese. Focus on its use in casual conversations and how it differs from the Mandarin 的 (de) to improve your bilingual skills.
Learners often mistakenly use 嘅 in Mandarin contexts where 的 (de) should be used, such as saying '我嘅书' instead of '我的书' (my book). Another common error is mispronouncing the tone, which can change the meaning entirely.
Pronunciation of 嘅
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Etymology of 嘅
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 既 represents the sound.
mouth
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 嘅
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 既 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half既 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymouth
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 嘅? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 嘅
Identify the Components
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How to say the sound of a sigh in Chinese
“the sound of a sigh” in Chinese is嘅
The character 嘅 (kǎi) is primarily a possessive particle used in Cantonese, similar in function to 的 (de) in Mandarin. It indicates possession and is commonly found in colloquial speech. In addition, it can express the sound of a sigh, conveying a range of emotions from resignation to frustration.
When to use 嘅
嘅 is predominantly used in Cantonese and is informal; it may not be understood in Mandarin contexts. A common mistake is using 嘅 in a Mandarin sentence where 的 (de) should be used instead. Be cautious with pronunciation as it can easily be confused with other particles.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 嘅 in Mandarin contexts where 的 (de) should be used, such as saying '我嘅书' instead of '我的书' (my book). Another common error is mispronouncing the tone, which can change the meaning entirely.
Write 嘅
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Practice writing 嘅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 嘅
Compound Meaning
What does 嘅 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嘅
You can use 嘅 to indicate possession, similar to saying 'my' in English, such as in '我嘅书' (my book).
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