se3 jau6赦宥

Jyutpingse3 jau6

Yalese yauh

Definition

To pardon, absolve, or excuse.

writtenother

How it's used

This term is formal and carries a sense of official or moral forgiveness that goes beyond casual apologies. It is rarely used in everyday spoken Cantonese, where people prefer simpler words like 原諒. Using it in casual conversation can sound overly dramatic, literary, or even sarcastic.

Examples

keoi5佢zou6做co3錯zo2咗si6事，hei1希mong6望nei5你ho2可ji5以se3赦jau6宥keoi5佢。

He made a mistake, I hope you can pardon him.

le1呢gin2件si6事zan1真hai6係hou2好naan4難se3赦jau6宥㗎。

This matter is really hard to forgive.

Common phrases

ceng2請kau4求se3赦jau6宥

to beg for pardon

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a common verb, but it is highly formal and usually reserved for written contexts or serious, elevated speech. It is not a substitute for everyday expressions of excuse or apology.