學校 / 学校
hok⁶ haau⁶
The Cantonese word for school is 學校 / 学校 (hok⁶ haau⁶). Wiktionary also lists 書館 / 书馆 (syu¹ gun²).
Meaning: an institution dedicated to teaching and learning (noun)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 學校 / 学校 | hok⁶ haau⁶ | |
| 書館 / 书馆 | syu¹ gun² | dated, dialectal |
The term refers to an institution dedicated to teaching and learning.
Which one should you use?
The term 書館 / 书馆 is a dated and dialectal way to refer to such an institution. Additionally, if you are specifically referring to a higher educational institution like a college or an academy, use the formal term 學院.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form 書館 / 书馆 is considered dialectal.
How do you pronounce it?
hok⁶ haau⁶
Did you know?
- The character 學 in 學校 is derived from a pictograph depicting a child under a roof with two hands guiding them, symbolizing the act of learning.
- In a Cantonese classroom, a teacher may use the term 放學 to signal the end of the school day, which literally means 'releasing from school'.
- In Hong Kong, students often use the English word 'school' even while speaking Cantonese, reflecting the city's colonial history and bilingual education system.
Examples in context
- 我今日要去學校。Today, I'm going to school.
- 我會資助一間藝術學院。I will sponsor an art academy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “school” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
