jau1 cik1休戚
Jyutpingjau1 cik1
Yaleyāu chīk
Definition
Joy and sorrow; happiness and sadness.
writtenemotionpeople
How it's used
This term is almost exclusively used in formal or literary contexts rather than casual daily speech. It is most commonly encountered in the four character idiom 休戚與共, which describes people who share a common fate and emotional bond. Using it in a standard conversation will sound overly dramatic or academic.
Examples
They are truly close friends who share in each other's joys and sorrows.
We are all in this together, so stop arguing.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common word for personal feelings, but it is restricted to describing the shared fate or interconnectedness of groups or partners. It should not be used to describe individual moods or personal sadness.
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.
