走
zau²
To say go away in Cantonese, use 走 (zau²), the everyday verb for leaving a place. If unsure, use 走. Wiktionary also lists 離開 / 离开 (lei⁴ hoi¹).
Meaning: to depart or leave a place (verb)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 走 | zau² |
| 離開 / 离开 | lei⁴ hoi¹ |
走 is the common, colloquial way to say someone is leaving or has gone away. Adding the particle 啦 gives 走啦, a command or suggestion to leave, used to tell someone to go away or get going.
Which one should you use?
離開 (lei⁴ hoi¹) is more formal and is often used in writing or when someone departs a specific place or organization.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the aspect marker 咗 after 走 gives 走咗, meaning has gone away or left.
How do you pronounce it?
It is pronounced zau², with a high rising tone.
Did you know?
- If you say someone 走咗, it doesn't just mean they walked away, it can also imply they have 'passed away' or died in certain euphemistic contexts.
- In Cantonese, 走 can be used to mean 'to run' or 'to flee', but it is also used to describe a student skipping class, known as 走堂.
- The character 走 originally depicted a person with a long stride, and in ancient Chinese, its primary meaning was 'to run' rather than just 'to go away'.
Examples in context
- 佢哋好快就走咗。keoi5 dei6 hou2 faai3 zau2 zo2.They left very quickly.
Example conversation
Zijian and Yating are at a cafe and the cafe is closing.
- 子健 Tsz Kin個舖頭就快收舖，我哋走啦。go3 pou3 tau2 zau6 faai3 sau1 pou3, ngo5 dei6 zau2 laa1.The shop is closing soon, let's go.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting好啊，我啱啱啱好飲完。hou2 aa3, ngo5 ngaam1 ngaam1 hou2 jam2 jyun4.Okay, I just finished my drink.
- 子健 Tsz Kin你之後去邊度？nei6 zi1 hau6 heoi3 bin1 dou6?Where are you going after this?
- 雅婷 Nga Ting我去車站走，直接返屋企。ngo5 heoi3 ce1 zaam6 zau2, zik6 zip3 faan1 uk1 kei2.I'll head to the station and go straight home.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “go away” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
