lou5 cou1老粗
Jyutpinglou5 cou1
Yalelóuh chōu
Definition
An uneducated, uncultured, or simple person, often used as a self-deprecating humble term.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Using this term is a way to lower one's status in conversation to appear modest or approachable. It is almost exclusively used as a self-deprecating label rather than an insult directed at others. When someone calls themselves a 老粗, they are often preemptively excusing themselves for a lack of sophistication or formal knowledge.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
A simple person like me, how would I know how to appreciate this kind of art?
He calls himself an unrefined person, but he has actually read a lot of books.
Related words
Common phrases
to call oneself a simple person
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone else unless you are very close friends, as it can sound condescending or rude when applied to a third party. It is strictly a humble term for self-reference.
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.
