zat6 dou3嫉妒
Jyutpingzat6 dou3
Yalejaht dou
Definition
To be jealous or envious; to feel resentment, envy, or sorrow over someone else's success or advantages.
neutralemotion
How it's used
Expressing jealousy in Cantonese often relies on more colloquial terms like 葡萄 or 眼紅 rather than the formal 嫉妒. Using 嫉妒 sounds quite serious and carries a weight of deep-seated resentment or moral judgment. It is more common in written contexts or formal speech than in casual banter between friends.
Examples
Don't be jealous of how rich they are.
He felt very jealous inside when he saw you got promoted.
Related words
Common phrases
jealousy
Common mistake
Learners often use 嫉妒 interchangeably with 羨慕, but 羨慕 is purely positive admiration without the underlying malice or bitterness found in 嫉妒. Using 嫉妒 to describe wanting a friend's new shoes will sound like you are accusing them of something wrong.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
