fu2嘸呒
Jyutpingfu2
Yalefú
Definition
Unclear or indistinct.
colloquialdescriptionscommunication
How it's used
This term is primarily used to describe something that is vague, ambiguous, or lacks a clear direction. It often appears in reduplicated form as 嘸嘸 to emphasize a state of confusion or lack of definition. It is a highly colloquial expression that feels more natural in casual speech than formal alternatives like 模糊.
Examples
He speaks so unclearly that I cannot understand him at all.
The matter is still unclear, how do you expect me to make a decision?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 唔, which is the standard negation particle. Remember that 嘸 is specifically about lack of clarity or definition, whereas 唔 is used to negate verbs, adjectives, and nouns.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
