jyu3 zau2酗酒
Jyutpingjyu3 zau2
Yaleyu jáu
Definition
To drink heavily, be addicted to alcohol, or suffer from alcoholism.
neutralhealthdaily actions
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the destructive, habitual nature of excessive drinking rather than just the act of consuming alcohol. It carries a formal or clinical tone, often appearing in health warnings or news reports about social issues. While it describes a serious condition, it is not typically used to describe someone who just had a few too many drinks at a party.
Examples
He drinks heavily all the time, which has ruined his health.
Do you know how much damage alcoholism does to the liver?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe casual social drinking or getting drunk once in a while. It implies a chronic, compulsive dependency that negatively impacts one's life or health.
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.
