右
jau⁶
The Cantonese word for 'right' in terms of direction is 右 (jau⁶).
右 is an adjective used to indicate the direction opposite of left.
Meaning: of direction, opposite of left (adj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong, the phrase 沒錯 is used to express that something is 'right' or 'correct'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify 'the right side' or 'on the right', you can add the suffix 邊 to 右 to form 右邊. To say 'right hand', you combine 右 with the word for hand, 手, resulting in 右手.
How do you pronounce it?
jau⁶
Did you know?
- The character 右 is composed of the radicals for 'hand' and 'mouth', reflecting an ancient concept of assisting someone with a hand and a word.
- In certain traditional Cantonese settings, the 'left' side was historically considered the 'superior' or more honorable side for certain ceremonial positions, reversing the modern Western preference for the 'right'.
- In Cantonese, if you want to say someone has a 'right' to something, you wouldn't use 右, but would instead use 權利 (kyun4 lei6).
Examples in context
- 佢左右不分。He can't distinguish between left and right.This example shows how to use 右 when discussing the ability to distinguish directions.Tatoeba #10645915 by clowergen, translation #816059 by afeinberg
- 我右眼睇唔到嘢。I'm blind in the right eye.This example uses 右 to refer to the right eye.Tatoeba #7996114 by nickyeow, translation #6873137 by CK
- 我隻右眼咩都睇唔到。I can't see anything with my right eye.This example uses 右 to describe sight in the right eye.Tatoeba #1323309 by nickyeow, translation #27051 by xtofu80
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ka Ming and Mai Ling are looking for a shop in a mall.
- 家明 Ka Ming我哋應該向右轉。ngo5 dei6 jing1 goi1 hoeng3 jau6 zyun2.We should turn right.
- 美玲 Mei Ling係唔係喺右邊？hai6 m4 hai6 hai2 jau6 bin1?Is it on the right side?
- 家明 Ka Ming係，就係右面嗰間。hai6, zau6 hai6 jau6 min6 go2 gaan1.Yes, it's that one on the right.
- 美玲 Mei Ling好，我哋行過去啦。hou2, ngo5 dei6 haang4 gwo3 hei3 laa1.Okay, let's walk over there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “right” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
