jyu1瘀
Jyutpingjyu1
Yaleyū
Definition
To bruise; to have blood stagnate under the skin from an injury, turning it blue-purple.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
Beyond the physical meaning of a bruise, this word is frequently used in slang to describe a situation that is embarrassing or causes someone to lose face. When used in this figurative sense, it often appears as 瘀皮 or 瘀事 to describe a cringeworthy or awkward moment.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage of similar characters. In Cantonese, it specifically refers to the discoloration of the skin caused by trauma, whereas in other contexts it might just mean stagnant or blocked.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
