faat3 siu3發笑发笑
Jyutpingfaat3 siu3
Yalefaat siu
Definition
To smile or laugh happily.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Although the dictionary definition suggests a gentle smile, in actual Cantonese conversation, this word is almost exclusively used to describe something that is funny or triggers laughter. It functions more like an adjective meaning funny or humorous rather than the act of smiling itself. Native speakers prefer using 笑 or 偷笑 when describing the physical act of smiling.
Examples
The jokes he tells are really funny.
Why did you suddenly start laughing?
Related words
Common phrases
to make someone laugh
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe the physical act of smiling, as it sounds formal and slightly awkward in that context. Use 笑 instead for general smiling.
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.
