sou3 fu2訴苦诉苦
Jyutpingsou3 fu2
Yalesou fú
Definition
To vent one's grievances, pour out one's woes, or share one's sorrows.
colloquialemotioncommunication
How it's used
Focuses on the emotional release of sharing personal hardships with a trusted listener. It implies a sense of relief after the act, distinguishing it from simply complaining or grumbling about minor annoyances. Often used when someone feels overwhelmed by life circumstances and needs a sympathetic ear.
Examples
He always comes to me to vent his woes, crying while he talks.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 投訴, which is used for formal complaints or reporting a service issue to an organization. 訴苦 is strictly for personal, emotional venting between people.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
