sau2擻擞
Jyutpingsau2
Yalesáu
Definition
To shake, shake off, or tremble.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
Primarily used for the physical action of shaking something to remove dust, water, or debris. It implies a sharp, quick motion rather than a gentle wave or a rhythmic vibration. When referring to shaking one's body or limbs, other verbs like 郁 are more common.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 震, which describes trembling or vibrating due to fear or cold. 擻 requires an object being acted upon, whereas 震 is often used intransitively to describe a state of being.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.



