zoek3 cou2著草着草
Jyutpingzoek3 cou2
Yalejeuk chóu
Definition
To abscond, flee, or run away to escape arrest or trouble.
slangpeopleslang
How it's used
Originating from the idea of hiding in the grass to escape pursuit, this term carries a strong connotation of fleeing to avoid legal trouble or massive debt. It is almost exclusively used in contexts involving criminal activity or severe financial delinquency. Using it to describe someone simply moving house or going on a trip would sound bizarre and overly dramatic.
Examples
He owed a lot of money and finally decided to abscond.
Related words
Common phrases
to abscond and leave
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 著衫, which means to wear clothes. Despite the shared character 著, the pronunciation and meaning are completely different.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.



