au1謳讴
Jyutpingau1
Yaleāu
Definition
To sing, or a folk song.
- literaryto sing
- literaryballad; folk song
writtendaily actions
How it's used
While 謳 is technically the character for singing, it is rarely used in modern daily speech compared to 唱. It carries a slightly more literary or poetic nuance, often associated with traditional folk songs or ballads. You will mostly encounter it in compound words like 謳歌 rather than as a standalone verb in casual conversation.
Examples
He really likes to sing in his room.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake 謳 for a common verb like 唱. Using 謳 in everyday contexts like singing karaoke or singing a pop song sounds unnatural and overly formal, as if you are reciting poetry.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
