liu4 dou2潦倒
Jyutpingliu4 dou2
Yalelìuh dóu
Definition
Down and out; miserable, dejected, and unsuccessful in life.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This term carries a heavy sense of social and economic failure, often implying that someone has hit rock bottom. It is much more descriptive and dramatic than simply saying someone is unhappy or poor. Use it to paint a picture of a person who has lost their dignity or direction in life.
Examples
His life has been very miserable since he lost his job.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a temporary bad mood or a minor setback. It implies a sustained state of decline or long term misfortune, so applying it to someone having a bad day sounds overly intense and inappropriate.
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.
