o1 jau1噢咻
Jyutpingo1 jau1
Yaleō yāu
Definition
To groan or moan due to physical pain or illness.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
This term specifically captures the sound of someone in physical discomfort or pain, often used when someone is groaning or whimpering. It is highly expressive and mimics the actual sound of the pain, making it feel more visceral than just saying someone is crying or complaining. You will often hear it used when someone is nursing a minor injury or feeling generally unwell.
Examples
Why are you moaning? Is something bothering you?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with generic crying or sobbing, as it specifically refers to the vocalization of pain rather than emotional distress. It is not used to describe loud screaming or shouting.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
