ou3懊

Jyutpingou3

Yaleou

Definition

To regret, feel remorse, or be annoyed with oneself.

colloquialemotion

How it's used

Expresses a deep, internal sense of remorse or vexation over a past action. It is more intense and personal than the standard word for regret, 後悔, which is often used in more neutral or formal contexts. You will rarely hear it used in casual daily speech, as it carries a heavy, almost literary weight.

Examples

zou2早zi1知hai6係gam3咁，ngo5我zau6就m4唔wui2會gam3咁ou3懊laa3喇。

If I had known it would turn out this way, I wouldn't have felt so regretful.

nei5你zou6做co3錯zo2咗je5嘢，ji4而gaa1家ou3懊dou1都mou5冇jung6用㗎。

You did the wrong thing, and it's useless to regret it now.

Common phrases

ou3懊nou5惱

vexed and regretful

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 傲, which sounds similar but means arrogant. Learners often mistake the two because they appear in similar contexts when describing someone's attitude or emotional state.