wu2胡
Jyutpingwu2
Yalewú
Definition
Reckless, rash, and disorderly; acting without following rules or order.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This morpheme functions primarily as a prefix to describe actions lacking order, logic, or proper planning. It carries a negative connotation of carelessness or acting without regard for consequences. While it appears in compound words, it is rarely used as a standalone verb in modern speech.
Examples
Don't just talk nonsense recklessly.
He always does things in a reckless way, it's very troublesome.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the surname 胡, which is pronounced with a different tone in some contexts, or mistake it for the Mandarin usage where it can function more broadly as a question particle or adverb.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
