lau4飂
Jyutpinglau4
Yalelàuh
Definition
To whizz or make a rushing sound as the wind blows.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
This character is primarily used to describe the sound or the sensation of something moving past at high speed. It acts as an onomatopoeic verb in Cantonese, often paired with 聲 to emphasize the suddenness of the action. It is rarely used in formal writing and remains a vivid, descriptive term for rapid motion.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with other verbs for speed like 快, but this specifically captures the auditory or sensory experience of a quick passing motion rather than just the state of being fast.
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.
