zou2 tau2早唞
Jyutpingzou2 tau2
Yalejóu táu
Definition
Good night, or a dismissive expression telling someone to go away or piss off.
- good night
- slangpiss off; go away
colloquialdaily actionscommunication
How it's used
While primarily used as a friendly way to say good night, the phrase carries a sharp, dismissive edge when used in an argument. It functions like telling someone to go to sleep because their presence is no longer welcome. The tone is entirely determined by the context and the speaker's facial expression.
Examples
I'm so sleepy, good night everyone.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in professional settings or with people you do not know well, as the secondary meaning of telling someone to get lost can be quite rude and aggressive.
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.
