so1娑
Jyutpingso1
Yalesō
Definition
To dance, lounge, or whirl; also used as a phonetic character.
- literaryto dance, lounge, or whirl
- technicalused as a phonetic character in words like "Sanskrit"
writtenother
How it's used
This character is rarely used in modern Cantonese outside of specific Buddhist terminology or as a phonetic transcription. It is most commonly encountered in the term 娑婆, which refers to the Sahā world in Buddhist cosmology. When used to describe a lounge or dance style, it is often a stylistic choice or a transliteration rather than a standard everyday verb.
Examples
They are dancing the Sopa dance.
The atmosphere here is very lounge-like.
Related words
Common phrases
the Sahā world
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 婆, which is a common character used for grandmother or as a suffix for certain types of women. 娑 is almost never used in isolation in daily speech and will likely confuse native speakers if used outside of its specific religious or transliterated contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
