haau6 lou4效勞效劳
Jyutpinghaau6 lou4
Yalehaauh lòuh
Definition
To offer help; to work for or serve someone.
colloquialworkpeople
How it's used
Carries a formal and polite tone, often used in service settings or when someone wants to sound particularly respectful. It is rarely used in casual peer-to-peer conversation, as it implies a subordinate or service-oriented position. Using it among friends can sound sarcastic or overly dramatic.
Examples
Boss, is there anything I can help you with?
He is very happy to help and will get the matter sorted for you.
Related words
Common phrases
happy to be of service
Common mistake
Avoid using this in casual settings with friends, as it sounds like you are acting like a servant or being overly formal to the point of irony.
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).
