faat3 mou4發毛发毛
Jyutpingfaat3 mou4
Yalefaat mòuh
Definition
To go moldy; to become contaminated with mold.
colloquialfoodhome
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the visual appearance of fuzzy fungal growth on surfaces. It is commonly used for food items or fabrics left in humid environments for too long. While it describes the process of decay, it is distinct from general rotting or decomposition.
Examples
This bread has been sitting out for a few days and has already gone mouldy.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe food that has simply gone bad or spoiled due to age, as 发毛 specifically implies the presence of visible mould or mildew.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
