hou4 huk1嚎哭
Jyutpinghou4 huk1
Yalehòuh hūk
Definition
To wail; to cry loudly and bitterly without stopping.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
嚎哭 implies a level of intensity and emotional distress that goes far beyond simple crying. It is reserved for situations involving extreme grief, trauma, or uncontrollable sobbing. Unlike the neutral term 喊, this word carries a vivid, almost auditory sense of someone screaming or howling while they cry.
Examples
The child is wailing in the street, it is so pitiful.
Why are you wailing all of a sudden?
Related words
Common phrases
wailing and screaming
Common mistake
Avoid using this word for mild sadness or everyday crying, as it sounds overly dramatic and intense. Using it to describe a child who is just slightly upset will sound unnatural or sarcastic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
