waa1哇
Jyutpingwaa1
Yalewā
Definition
The sound of loud crying or wailing.
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
This term functions as an onomatopoeia specifically for the sudden, loud, and often high-pitched sound of a child crying. It is frequently doubled as 哇哇 to emphasize the continuous or repetitive nature of the wailing. While it mimics the sound of crying, it can also be used to describe someone shouting or screaming in a distressed manner.
Examples
The kid let out a loud wail.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the exclamation 哇, which is used to express surprise or admiration. The crying sound is typically used with verbs like 喊 or 叫 to clarify the action, whereas the exclamation stands alone as an interjection.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
