sau1羞
Jyutpingsau1
Yalesāu
Definition
Shy, bashful, or embarrassed; too self-conscious to meet someone's gaze.
colloquialemotion
How it's used
While 羞 expresses the feeling of shame or bashfulness, it is rarely used as a standalone verb in modern spoken Cantonese. It is almost exclusively found in compound words like 羞恥 or 害羞. For everyday situations where someone is being shy, 怕醜 is the standard and natural choice.
Examples
He feels very shy whenever he sees his crush.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 羞 as a direct replacement for 怕醜 in casual conversation, as it sounds overly formal or literary. Using it to describe a child being shy will sound unnatural to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
