ou3 nou5懊惱懊恼
Jyutpingou3 nou5
Yaleou nóuh
Definition
Annoyed, upset, or deeply regretful.
- annoyed; upset; frustrated
- regretful; remorseful
colloquialemotion
How it's used
While often translated as annoyed, this word carries a stronger sense of internal distress or regret over a past action. It implies a state of being mentally troubled or vexed by one's own choices rather than just external irritation. It is more formal or literary than the everyday word 煩.
Examples
He feels very annoyed because he made the wrong decision.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use this to describe being annoyed by other people, but it is primarily used for self-directed frustration or regret. If you are simply irritated by someone else's behavior, use 煩 or 嬲 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
