nou5惱恼
Jyutpingnou5
Yalenóuh
Definition
To be angry or irritated; or to be troubled and worried.
- angry; irritated; annoyed
- worried; troubled; vexed
neutralemotion
How it's used
惱 is primarily used in formal or literary contexts in Cantonese, such as in the word 煩惱. In everyday spoken Cantonese, people almost exclusively use 嬲 to express anger or irritation. Using 惱 in casual conversation can sound overly dramatic or like you are reading from a book.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake 惱 for the common spoken word 嬲. While they share similar meanings, 嬲 is the standard colloquial term for being angry, whereas 惱 is reserved for more formal expressions or specific compound words.
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.
