cau2 si6醜事丑事
Jyutpingcau2 si6
Yalecháu sih
Definition
Shameful thing; disgraceful affair.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Focuses on the loss of face or public embarrassment associated with a secret or private matter being revealed. It is frequently used in the context of family secrets or personal scandals that people prefer to keep hidden from outsiders. The phrase 醜事不出門, which means shameful things should not be spread outside the home, is a common cultural reference point for this concept.
Measure word
gin2件gínExamples
He is always going around talking about other people's shameful affairs.
Related words
Common phrases
don't wash your dirty linen in public
expose a scandal
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple mistakes or minor blunders. It carries a much heavier weight of moral disgrace or social shame than just being clumsy or making a wrong decision.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
