nou5努

Jyutpingnou5

Yalenóuh

Rare

Definition

To exert, make an effort, or to stare.

to exert; to make an effort
to stare with eyes wide open; to glare

colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions

How it's used

While 努 appears in common compounds like 努力, it is rarely used as a standalone verb in modern spoken Cantonese. When it means to stare, it is almost exclusively paired with the aspect marker 住 to describe a fixed, intense gaze. In most contexts, speakers prefer using 搏命 or 盡力 to express the idea of exerting effort.

Examples

nei5你jat1一ding6定jiu3要nou5努lik6力duk6讀syu1書aa4呀。

You must study hard.

keoi5佢nou5努zyu6住deoi3對ngaan5眼mong6望zyu6住ngo5我。

He stared at me with his eyes wide open.

Common phrases

nou5努lik6力

hardworking

Common mistake

Do not confuse the verb 努 with the noun 怒, which means anger. Learners often mistake the two characters because they look similar and share a phonetic component.