zau2 sat1走失
Jyutpingzau2 sat1
Yalejáu sāt
Definition
To wander off, get lost, or go missing, used for people or pets.
colloquialpeopleanimals
How it's used
Primarily describes the act of becoming separated from a group or owner, rather than simply being unable to find one's way in a new city. It carries a sense of urgency or concern, often implying that the person or animal is vulnerable and needs to be located quickly. It is frequently used in public announcements or when reporting a missing child or pet.
Examples
The kid wandered off in the mall, scaring their parents to death.
Your dog wandered off in the park, have you found it yet?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 迷路, which specifically means to be lost in terms of direction or not knowing the way. 走失 implies a loss of contact or separation from a companion or guardian, whereas 迷路 focuses on the lack of geographical orientation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
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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).



