zou2 suk6早熟
Jyutpingzou2 suk6
Yalejóu suhk
Definition
Precocious; maturing early either mentally or physically.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes someone who displays intellectual or emotional maturity beyond their actual age. While it can be a compliment regarding someone's capability, it often carries a subtle undertone of concern that the person has missed out on the carefree nature of childhood. It is frequently used by adults observing children who seem to have skipped the typical playful phase.
Examples
He was very precocious from a young age, always talking about adult topics.
Do you think this child is too precocious?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 成熟, which simply means mature. 早熟 specifically highlights that the maturity has arrived earlier than expected for the person's age, often implying a deviation from the norm.
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.
