siu3笑
Jyutpingsiu3
Yalesiu
Definition
To smile or laugh.
Example
colloquialemotiondaily actions
How it's used
Use this verb to cover everything from a subtle smirk to a full belly laugh. When someone finds something particularly funny, it is common to add a resultative complement like 笑死 or 笑到肚痛 to emphasize the intensity of the laughter.
Examples
Why are you laughing so happily?
The joke he told really cracked me up.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 講笑, which specifically means to tell a joke or to be joking. Using 笑 alone usually refers to the physical act of laughing or smiling, rather than the act of joking.
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.
