mou4蕪芜
Jyutpingmou4
Yalemòuh
Definition
Overgrown with weeds; neglected and wild.
writtennaturedescriptions
How it's used
Primarily used in the compound 荒蕪 to describe land that has been abandoned and left to nature. It carries a sense of desolation and neglect rather than just simple gardening issues. You will rarely hear the single character 蕪 used on its own in modern spoken Cantonese.
Examples
The land has been overgrown with weeds for a long time.
Why has this place become so overgrown and desolate?
Related words
Common phrases
a desolate or overgrown land
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 蕪菁, which refers to the vegetable turnip. In the context of turnip, the character is part of a specific noun and does not carry the meaning of weeds or overgrowth.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
