jiu4饒饶
Jyutpingjiu4
Yaleyìuh
Definition
To forgive, spare, or show mercy to someone.
neutralemotionpeople
How it's used
Used primarily in contexts involving mercy or sparing someone from punishment. It carries a slightly formal or literary weight compared to everyday words like 原諒. It often appears in set phrases or when someone is in a position of authority deciding whether to let an offender off the hook.
Examples
I'll forgive you this time, don't do it again next time.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can mean to talk excessively or to be rich in something. In Cantonese, it is almost exclusively tied to the concept of sparing or forgiving someone.
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.
