bou6 cou3暴躁
Jyutpingbou6 cou3
Yalebouh chou
Definition
Irritable, short-tempered, and easily angered.
neutralpeopleemotion
How it's used
While often used in formal writing, it is perfectly acceptable in spoken Cantonese to describe someone with a volatile personality. It carries a stronger connotation of being explosive or prone to outbursts compared to simply saying someone is impatient or grumpy. It is frequently paired with the noun 脾氣 to emphasize the specific nature of the person's temperament.
Examples
He is a very ill-tempered person and is always losing his temper.
Why are you so irritable? Let's talk nicely.
Related words
Common phrases
having an irritable personality
short-tempered
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a temporary mood, as it refers to a stable personality trait. If someone is just annoyed right now, use 發嬲 or 唔開心 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
