saa1 aa2沙啞沙哑
Jyutpingsaa1 aa2
Yalesā á
Definition
Hoarse or raspy; having a coarse voice.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
While 沙啞 is understood in Cantonese, native speakers overwhelmingly prefer the term 聲沙 when describing a hoarse voice in daily life. Using 聲沙 feels more natural and fits the rhythm of spoken Cantonese better than the more formal-sounding 沙啞. If you want to emphasize that a voice sounds broken or strained, you might also hear people use the word 坼.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often treat 沙啞 as a verb, but it is strictly an adjective. You must use it with a possessive structure like 把聲好沙啞 or 喉嚨沙啞 rather than trying to use it as an action.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
