wo6 toi1禍胎祸胎
Jyutpingwo6 toi1
Yalewoh tōi
Definition
The source of disaster or root of trouble.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Focuses specifically on a person or thing that initiates a series of unfortunate events. It carries a strong sense of blame and is often used when identifying the culprit behind a recurring problem. Unlike general terms for trouble, this implies that the subject is the origin point from which all subsequent negative consequences flow.
Examples
He is fundamentally the root of this whole trouble.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe inanimate objects that are merely inconvenient, as it implies a more serious, often moral or systemic, responsibility for a disaster or significant conflict.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
