laan6 zau2爛酒烂酒
Jyutpinglaan6 zau2
Yalelaahn jáu
Definition
Alcoholism; a state of uncontrolled drinking or severe alcohol addiction.
colloquialhealthpeople
How it's used
Describes a person who is habitually addicted to alcohol or drinks excessively to the point of losing control. Unlike formal terms for alcoholism, this carries a strong sense of judgment or disapproval, often implying that the person is unreliable or has let their life fall apart due to drinking.
Examples
If you keep drinking like this, you will ruin your health.
Related words
Common phrases
a hopeless alcoholic
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being a heavy drinker or enjoying alcohol, as it specifically implies a destructive habit or addiction. It is a derogatory label and should not be used to describe someone casually.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
