gu4 gu2 seng1咕咕聲咕咕声
Jyutpinggu4 gu2 seng1
Yalegùh gú sēng
Definition
The rumbling sound of the stomach when a person is feeling hungry
colloquialbodyfood
How it's used
This expression is an onomatopoeia that vividly captures the sound of a hungry stomach. It is almost exclusively used in casual settings among friends or family. While it describes the physical sound, it is also frequently used as a humorous way to signal that someone is starving.
Examples
ngo5 go3 tou5 gu4 gu2 seng1 faai3 di1 heoi3 wan2 je5 sik6 laa1
我個肚咕咕聲，快啲去搵嘢食啦。
My stomach is rumbling, let's go find something to eat quickly.
nei5 go3 tou5 hai6 mai6 gu4 gu2 seng1 aa4
你個肚係咪咕咕聲呀？
Is your stomach rumbling?
Related words
Common phrases
tou5 gu4 gu2 seng1
肚咕咕聲
stomach rumbling
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe other types of rumbling sounds, such as those from a car engine or thunder. It is specifically reserved for the biological sound of a hungry stomach.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
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.
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