cau4 sau2 gau3 min6囚首垢面
Jyutpingcau4 sau2 gau3 min6
Yalechàuh sáu gau mihn
Definition
With disheveled hair and a dirty face, describing someone who is unkempt and filthy like a prisoner.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong negative connotation regarding someone's lack of self-care or personal hygiene. It is often used to criticize someone who has let themselves go, appearing messy or unwashed after a long period of neglecting their appearance. While it originates from literary Chinese, it is still used in modern speech to emphasize a particularly unkempt state.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple description of being tired, but it specifically emphasizes the lack of grooming and cleanliness rather than just fatigue.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
