zi6 gau3自咎
Jyutpingzi6 gau3
Yalejih gau
Definition
To blame or rebuke oneself.
neutralemotion
How it's used
Focuses on the internal process of self-reproach rather than external expression. It is often used to comfort someone who is dwelling too much on past errors. While it implies a sense of responsibility, it carries a slightly more formal or literary weight compared to the more common spoken expression 責怪自己.
Examples
Don't blame yourself for making a mistake; just fix it next time.
Related words
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.
