oi1 sau4哀愁
Jyutpingoi1 sau4
Yaleōi sàuh
Definition
Sadness, sorrow, or grief.
writtenemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Literary and formal in tone, this word is rarely used in casual spoken Cantonese. Most speakers prefer using 唔開心 or 愁眉苦臉 to describe a state of sadness or melancholy. It often appears in written descriptions of characters in novels or news reports rather than in face to face conversation.
Examples
He always looks so sad, as if he has a lot on his mind.
Why are you so sad? You will feel better if you talk about it.
Related words
Common mistake
Using this word in a casual setting can make you sound overly dramatic or like you are reading from a book. Stick to simpler adjectives like 唔開心 or 傷心 for everyday situations.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
