kau3 sau4寇仇
Jyutpingkau3 sau4
Yalekau sàuh
Definition
Enemy; foe.
writtenpeopleemotion
How it's used
This term carries a strong, formal, and somewhat literary weight that is rarely used in casual daily conversation. It implies a deep-seated, historical, or intense animosity rather than a simple disagreement or minor conflict. You will most often encounter it in historical dramas, novels, or when someone is being particularly dramatic or emphatic about their hatred.
Examples
Their two families have been enemies for generations, they are practically sworn foes.
Related words
Common phrases
sworn enemy who cannot live under the same sky
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a casual rival or someone you just dislike, as it sounds overly intense and archaic. For everyday situations, use 仇人 or 對頭 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
