caau2 ji5吵耳
Jyutpingcaau2 ji5
Yalecháau yíh
Definition
Noisy, loud, or unpleasant to the ear; causing discomfort or annoyance.
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How it's used
Focuses specifically on the subjective irritation caused by a sound rather than just the objective volume level. While 嘈 is a general term for noisy, 吵耳 highlights the unpleasant or piercing quality of the noise that makes one want to cover their ears. It is frequently used to describe high-pitched sounds, constant chatter, or repetitive mechanical noises.
Examples
Lower your voice, it's really noisy in here.
Related words
Common phrases
really noisy and annoying
find it grating to listen to
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 嘈, which is a broader verb or adjective for noise. 吵耳 is strictly an adjective describing the effect of the sound on the listener, so you would not use it to say a place is noisy; for that, you must use 嘈.
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.
