cau4 coeng3惆悵惆怅
Jyutpingcau4 coeng3
Yalechàuh cheung
Definition
Disconsolate, dejected, or downcast due to sadness or frustration.
neutralemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Carries a sense of lingering, quiet melancholy rather than sudden or intense grief. It often describes a state of being lost in thought while feeling troubled or uncertain about the future. While it can be used in casual speech, it is slightly more descriptive and literary than common alternatives like 唔開心.
Examples
Seeing how dejected they are, I do not know how to comfort them.
Why are you sitting there all by yourself looking so downcast?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple boredom or minor annoyance, as it implies a deeper, more reflective emotional weight. It is not interchangeable with 煩, which typically refers to being busy or irritated by specific tasks.
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.
