zeoi3 zau2醉酒
Jyutpingzeoi3 zau2
Yalejeui jáu
Definition
To be drunk or intoxicated, having consumed too much alcohol and lost mental clarity.
colloquialdrinkhealth
How it's used
Describes a state of intoxication that often implies a loss of control or incoherent behavior. While it can be used as a verb, it is frequently used as a noun modifier to describe someone who is currently in a drunken state. It carries a slightly more descriptive or clinical nuance compared to the more common and casual phrase 飲醉.
Examples
Did you act crazy after you got drunk?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 醉酒 with 飲醉. 飲醉 is the standard, everyday way to say someone is drunk, whereas 醉酒 is more formal and often appears in legal contexts or news reports regarding public order.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
