tung3 huk1 lau4 tai3痛哭流涕

Jyutpingtung3 huk1 lau4 tai3

Yaletung hūk làuh tai

動詞

Definition

To cry bitterly and loudly.

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How it's used

This is a formal idiom that sounds quite literary or dramatic in everyday Cantonese. While it describes intense crying, using it in casual conversation often carries a sarcastic or hyperbolic tone. For standard, neutral descriptions of crying, native speakers prefer using 喊得好犀利 or 喊到收唔到聲.

Examples

keoi5佢tai2睇jyun4完tou3套hei3戲zi1之hau6後tung3痛huk1哭lau4流tai3涕。

He cried bitterly after watching the movie.

nei5你sai2使m4唔sai2使tung3痛huk1哭lau4流tai3涕aa4呀？

Do you really need to cry that hard?

Common phrases

jan2忍m4唔zyu6住tung3痛huk1哭lau4流tai3涕

cannot help but cry bitterly

Common mistake

Learners often use this idiom to describe normal crying, but it implies a level of emotional intensity that is usually reserved for extreme grief or profound regret. Using it for minor sadness will sound unnatural or overly theatrical.