ngok6 hou3噩耗
Jyutpingngok6 hou3
Yalengohk hou
Definition
Grave bad news, usually referring to the death of someone.
writtenpeopleother
How it's used
Reserved exclusively for news of a death, this term carries a heavy, formal weight that makes it unsuitable for everyday bad news like failing a test or missing a bus. It is almost always used in written reports or formal announcements rather than casual conversation. When spoken, it signals a high level of seriousness and grief.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Everyone was very sad to hear this tragic news.
Related words
Common phrases
news of a death arrives
shocked to hear the tragic news
Common mistake
Avoid using this for minor setbacks or general bad news. Using it to describe something trivial sounds overly dramatic or even mocking.
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.
