zoi1 hoi6災害灾害
Jyutpingzoi1 hoi6
Yalejōi hoih
Definition
Disaster or calamity; events that threaten human life and the environment.
neutralnatureother
How it's used
Refers specifically to large scale events that cause significant destruction to the environment or human life. It is more formal than everyday words like 意外 or 麻煩, and is commonly used in news reports or formal discussions about natural events. When talking about minor mishaps or personal bad luck, use 意外 instead.
Measure word
coeng4場chèunghExamples
This disaster this time is really serious.
Have you all seen this disaster?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use this word for personal accidents or minor inconveniences, but it is reserved for major calamities like earthquakes, floods, or fires. Using it for a small mistake or a minor injury sounds overly dramatic and unnatural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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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.
