sat1 heoi3失去
Jyutpingsat1 heoi3
Yalesāt heui
Definition
To lose; to no longer have.
writtendescriptionsemotion
How it's used
This term is primarily used in formal or written contexts, such as news reports or literary descriptions. In everyday spoken Cantonese, people almost exclusively use 唔見咗 to describe losing a physical object, or 冇咗 to express the loss of an abstract state or possession.
Examples
He seems to have lost his sense of direction.
Have you lost your confidence?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 失去 to talk about misplacing your keys or wallet, as it sounds overly dramatic or clinical. Use 唔見咗 instead for everyday items.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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.
