粤

粵

yuè

丂 + 丿 + 囗 + 米

Definitions

Yuè (noun) short name for Guangdong province

Etymology

About

粤 is the official abbreviation for Guangdong province and a marker of Cantonese language and culture. Its structure combines 釆 (distinguishing or gathering) on top with 丂 or 亏 (release of breath or sound) below. Originally, it was merely an archaic grammatical particle used at the start of classical Chinese sentences to express emotion or set a tone, lacking concrete meaning. A later phonetic and semantic link with 越 led to its modern geographic adoption for the southern coastal region and its associated linguistic heritage.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

粤菜非常好吃。

Yuècài fēicháng hǎochī.

Cantonese cuisine is very delicious.

我喜欢听粤语歌。

Wǒ xǐhuān tīng yuèyǔ gē.

I like listening to Cantonese songs.

他来自粤北地区。

Tā láizì Yuè běi dìqū.

He comes from northern Guangdong.

我们计划去粤旅行。

Wǒmen jìhuà qù Yuè lǚxíng.

We plan to travel to Guangdong.

粤语在海外华人中很流行。

Yuèyǔ zài hǎiwài huárén zhōng hěn liúxíng.

Cantonese is very popular among overseas Chinese.

粤港澳大湾区是一个重要的经济区域。

Yuè Gǎng Ào dàwān qū shì yīgè zhòngyào de jīngjì qūyù.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is an important economic region.

她通过观看粤语电视剧来提高听力。

Tā tōngguò guānkàn yuèyǔ diànshìjù lái tígāo tīnglì.

She improves her listening skills by watching Cantonese TV dramas.

由于粤语发音复杂，许多学习者觉得挑战很大。

Yóuyú yuèyǔ fāyīn fùzá, xǔduō xuéxízhě juédé tiǎozhàn hěn dà.

Due to the complex pronunciation of Cantonese, many learners find it very challenging.

Related Characters

Component: 丂

Component: 丿

Component: 囗

Component: 米

粤