jyun1 sau4冤仇
Jyutpingjyun1 sau4
Yaleyūn sàuh
Definition
Enmity, grudge, or rancour arising from being wronged or insulted.
neutralemotionpeople
How it's used
Focuses on a deep, often long-standing grudge stemming from a specific act of betrayal or harm. It carries a heavier, more dramatic weight than simple annoyance or dislike, often implying a desire for retribution or a history of conflict. You will frequently hear it in the context of family feuds or historical grievances in dramas.
Examples
How deep is the rancour between those two families?
There is no real rancour between him and me.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 怨氣, which refers more to a general sense of resentment or a bad atmosphere in a room. 冤仇 specifically requires a target and a history of mutual wrongdoing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Particle
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
