mut6 lok6沒落没落
Jyutpingmut6 lok6
Yalemuht lohk
Definition
To decline, decay, or head towards ruin.
neutralother
How it's used
Focuses on the long term process of fading away or losing power, rather than a sudden collapse. It is often used to describe the historical decline of empires, traditional crafts, or once prosperous family businesses. The tone is formal and slightly melancholic, making it less common in casual daily chatter about minor inconveniences.
Examples
This industry has already gradually declined.
Why did that ancient city decline?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 沒 (mou6), which is the standard Cantonese negative marker for 'have not'. While they share the same character, 沒落 is a compound word where the character retains its literary sense of 'sinking' or 'disappearing' rather than just negation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
