wu1烏乌
Jyutpingwu1
Yalewū
Definition
Black or dark-colored.
colloquialdescriptionscolours
How it's used
Used primarily as a prefix in compound words to describe deep, dark, or murky shades. It rarely stands alone as a simple adjective in modern speech, functioning instead as a descriptive element that emphasizes a lack of light or a very dark appearance.
Examples
It is pitch black outside, walk carefully.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 烏 as a standalone adjective for the color black in daily conversation, as 黑色 is the standard term. Learners often confuse it with the bird name 烏鴉, but the character itself carries a distinct sense of darkness or gloom.
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.
