mou5 sau1冇修
Jyutpingmou5 sau1
Yalemóuh sāu
Definition
Beyond help; hopeless; describing a situation where nothing more can be done.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This term carries a strong sense of resignation or frustration, often implying that someone's behavior or situation is beyond any possibility of improvement. It is frequently used to describe someone who repeatedly makes the same mistakes or refuses to listen to advice. While it can be used to describe a financial state, it is more commonly applied to a person's character or a hopeless situation.
Examples
He is so lazy, he is really a lost cause.
You still believe what he says? You are truly beyond help.
Related words
Common phrases
really a lost cause
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 無修, which is not used in Cantonese. Learners often try to use it as a verb, but it functions strictly as an adjective to describe the state of a person or situation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
