ou3噢
Jyutpingou3
Yaleou
Definition
Oh; an interjection expressing surprise, sudden understanding, or realization.
colloquialparticlecommunication
How it's used
This interjection is used to express sudden realization or a mild sense of discovery. It functions similarly to the English "oh" and often appears at the very beginning of a sentence to signal a shift in understanding. It is frequently followed by a particle like 呀 or 㗎 to soften the tone and make the reaction sound more natural in conversation.
Examples
Oh, so that is how it is.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 哦, which is often used to acknowledge receipt of information or to show passive listening. While 噢 signals a moment of insight or surprise, 哦 is more neutral and can sometimes sound dismissive if used incorrectly in a conversation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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.
