seoi1 lou5衰老
Jyutpingseoi1 lou5
Yalesēui lóuh
Definition
To senesce, age, or deteriorate with age.
neutralhealthdescriptions
How it's used
Focuses heavily on the physical or functional decline associated with getting older rather than just the passage of time. It carries a slightly negative or clinical connotation compared to the neutral term 老. You will often see it used in advertisements for health supplements or skincare products promising to slow down this process.
Examples
People will eventually age, no need to be so scared.
Do you feel like you are starting to age?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe someone's age directly in a casual conversation, as it can sound quite harsh or rude. Use 老咗 or 上咗年紀 instead if you are simply referring to someone getting older.
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.
