liu2 cou2潦草
Jyutpingliu2 cou2
Yalelíu chóu
Definition
Messy, careless, or illegible handwriting.
colloquialdescriptionswork
How it's used
Beyond handwriting, this term frequently describes a slapdash or perfunctory attitude toward completing a task. It implies that someone is rushing through work without paying attention to detail or quality. When used this way, it carries a sense of criticism regarding a person's lack of care or professionalism.
Examples
Don't write so messily, write more neatly.
Related words
Common phrases
messy handwriting
to do things in a slipshod manner
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 亂, which is a general term for messy or chaotic. While 亂 can describe a messy room or a chaotic situation, 潦草 is specifically reserved for handwriting or the quality of work performance.
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.



