sau1 dou6修道
Jyutpingsau1 dou6
Yalesāu douh
Definition
To spend a large amount of time spiritually cultivating oneself according to a religious doctrine.
neutralother
How it's used
Focuses on the long term, disciplined process of refining one's character and spiritual state, often within a monastic or ascetic context. While it implies religious practice, it is sometimes used metaphorically to describe someone who is exceptionally calm, detached, or living a very disciplined, solitary lifestyle.
Examples
He went deep into the mountains to cultivate himself spiritually while still very young.
Do you really think spiritual cultivation is that simple?
Related words
Common phrases
to devote oneself wholeheartedly to spiritual cultivation
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 修煉, which is more commonly used in fantasy or martial arts contexts to describe training for supernatural powers or physical strength.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
