橋 / 桥
kiu⁴
The Cantonese word for bridge is 橋 / 桥 (kiu⁴).
The term 橋 / 桥 refers to a construction or natural feature that spans a divide. To describe the specific action of bridging or connecting two places, you can use the term 連接.
Meaning: construction or natural feature that spans a divide (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 橋 / 桥 is the standard term, 橋樑 / 桥梁 is a more formal or technical term often used in engineering or written contexts. To describe the act of bridging or connecting, use 連接.
How do you pronounce it?
kiu⁴
Did you know?
- In Cantonese slang, the word 橋 is used to describe a clever trick or a creative plot device in a movie or story.
- In traditional Cantonese culture, the 'bridge' is often associated with the Qixi Festival, which celebrates two lovers who meet once a year on a bridge of magpies.
- The character 橋 contains the radical for 'wood', reflecting that most bridges in early Chinese history were timber structures.
Examples in context
- 這座凌空的橋真壯觀。This skybridge is truly spectacular.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bridge” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
