sau1 kwai5羞愧
Jyutpingsau1 kwai5
Yalesāu kwáih
Definition
Feeling ashamed or guilty about one's own actions.
neutralemotion
How it's used
Expressing deep personal regret or moral failure, this term carries a formal weight that is less common in casual daily chatter. While it accurately describes the feeling of shame, native speakers often prefer simpler phrases like 唔好意思 or 覺得好樣衰 to convey embarrassment in social situations.
Examples
He feels very ashamed for doing something wrong.
Why do you feel ashamed about this matter?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use this word for minor social faux pas, but it is reserved for more serious feelings of moral guilt or deep regret rather than simple awkwardness.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
