jau4悠
Jyutpingjau4
Yaleyàuh
Definition
Long ago, far-reaching in time, or leisurely and carefree.
- long ago; far-reaching in time
- leisurely; carefree; slow and easy
neutraltimedescriptions
How it's used
悠 is primarily a literary morpheme used in formal compounds to describe something that has lasted for a very long time. In colloquial Cantonese, it appears most frequently in the reduplicated form 滋悠悠, which describes a relaxed, unhurried, or carefree state of being. This colloquial usage contrasts sharply with the formal, static sense of time found in phrases like 悠久.
Examples
This place has a long history, many tourists come to visit.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 悠 as a standalone word to mean long time ago in daily speech, as it will sound unnatural or archaic. It is almost exclusively used as part of a multi-character compound or a specific colloquial expression.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- 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.
