tou1 jiu5叨擾叨扰
Jyutpingtou1 jiu5
Yaletōu yíuh
Definition
To disturb or trouble someone, or to cause them inconvenience.
neutralcommunicationpeople
How it's used
Used primarily as a polite, formal expression of apology when visiting someone's home or asking for a favor. It carries a sense of humility and social grace, acknowledging that one's presence or request is an imposition. While it sounds slightly traditional or literary, it remains a standard way to show respect to a host or a senior.
Examples
Sorry for disturbing you tonight, thanks for having me.
I'm really sorry to disturb you for help when you are so busy.
Related words
Common phrases
sorry for all the trouble
Common mistake
Avoid using this in casual, everyday settings with close friends, as it can sound overly stiff or sarcastic. It is strictly for formal or polite social interactions where you want to express genuine gratitude for the inconvenience caused.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
