hou3 syun2耗損耗损
Jyutpinghou3 syun2
Yalehou syún
Definition
To wear out, consume, or diminish in utility through frequent use.
neutralworkhealth
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the gradual degradation or loss of utility due to continuous use or passage of time. It is a more formal or technical term compared to everyday verbs like 爛 or 舊, often appearing in contexts involving machinery, physical health, or resource management. Unlike simple breakage, it implies a process of wearing down that is often inevitable.
Examples
The car has been used for so long that the parts are starting to wear out.
If you keep training like this, your body will easily wear down.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this for sudden, accidental damage or breakage, as it specifically describes a process of gradual deterioration. For something that is simply broken or smashed, use 爛 instead.
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.
