ciu4憔
Jyutpingciu4
Yalechìuh
Definition
Haggard, thin, and worn, typically from worry, illness, or fatigue.
colloquialhealthdescriptions
How it's used
This word is almost exclusively used in the compound 憔悴 to describe a person's physical appearance when they look worn out, sickly, or exhausted. It carries a sense of sympathy for the person's state, suggesting they have been through a difficult time or lack proper rest.
Examples
You look so haggard from working lately.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe inanimate objects or abstract concepts, as it specifically refers to the human face or general physical condition. It is a descriptive adjective and should not be used as a verb.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
